WASHINGTON-Settlement talks continue in a blind woman’s complaint that Verizon Wireless and Audiovox Communications Corp. violated the disability provision of the 1996 telecom act, with lawyers expected to report back to the Federal Communications Commission by Dec. 1.
In Oct. 2 filings with the FCC, attorneys for Dr. Bonnie O’Day, Verizon Wireless and Audiovox told federal regulators that settlement discussions remain on track, and they believe progress is being made. O’Day filed the formal complaint at the FCC Feb. 21
While the disability complaint targets only Verizon Wireless, the nation’s No. 1 mobile-phone operator, and phone manufacturer Audiovox, the case has broad legal implications for the mobile-phone industry.
O’Day’s formal complaint-the first since the telecom act’s passage to seek enforcement of Section 255 disability rights-alleges that basic phone features-like caller identification and one-touch dialing-were delivered through visual display that were not usable. O’Day and disability advocates are pushing wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers to provide service through handsets with audio prompts and outputs.
The law firm of Spiegel & McDiarmid is representing O’Day on a pro-bono basis.
The FCC has broken up the O’Day complaint into separate proceedings against Verizon Wireless and Audiovox.
