COAT Makes Recommendations to FCC on National Broadband Plan

On June 8, COAT sent recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the national broadband plan they must submit to the US Congress by February 17, 2010. COAT asked the FCC to ensure that the plan fosters access for people with disabilities to help eliminate the broadband divide facing our community. We asked the FCC to define broadband so that technologies used by people with disabilities are supported and we recommended data collection methods to capture the reasons for low broadband subscribership. COAT reiterated the request to modify the federal Lifeline and Linkup programs to allow low income people with disabilities to use these subsidies to reduce the cost of broadband service and equipment. We also asked the FCC to adopt rules and policies promoting universally designed broadband products.