Georgia Institute of TechnologyCenter for Advanced Communications Policy
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INFORMATION ABOUT
CACP Datebook

 

Welcome to the Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP). Our core competency in advanced communications technology and our reputation as an international, national, regional and state resource has made us a go-to entity. CACP operates as a neutral authority, monitoring and assessing related legislative and regulatory issues, identifying future options through horizon scanning techniques, and promotes a clearer understanding of the ever changing technology landscape.

 

  • Inter-State Partnership for a Common Goal
    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHHS DSDHH) is partnering with Georgia Institute of Technology’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies’ (Wireless RERC) Wireless Emergency Communications (WEC) project, funded by U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, to develop accessible emergency alerts for people with disabilities. This particular partnership will focus on the accessibility needs of Deaf and hard of hearing citizens. The Wireless RERC and DHHS DSDHH look forward to engaging members of the Raleigh community of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in this exciting opportunity to advance the science of accessible emergency communications. The details of this unique experience and the preliminary results will be shared following the completion of all the field trials. Visit the Wireless RERC website for more information on the WEC project at http://www.wirelessrerc.org/about-us/projects/development-projects/d3-wireless-emergency-communications.html.

  • WEC Continues to Pursue Access on All Fronts
    On July 8, 2008 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Second Report & Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (2nd R&O FNPRM) regarding the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS). In the R&O the FCC references comments made by the wireless RERC’s wireless emergency communications (WEC) project: "According to the Wireless RERC, there is a need to develop a thorough testing regime to ensure that the CMAS will be accessible and inclusive of all people, including those with disabilities and those who do not speak English." The preceding quote can be found in paragraph 18 on page 8 and a separate footnote reference regarding paragraph 21 on page 9. The CMAS 2nd R&O FNPRM adopts rules regarding geographically targeted alerts and the mandatory testing regime for participating commercial mobile service providers and seeks comment on requiring non-commercial educational and public broadcast television stations licensees to participate in testing their component of the system. The full text of the document can be accessed at [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-164A1.pdf]. A word version of the document is available on the FCC homepage at [www.fcc.gov].

    View Full Document [PDF]

  • WEC Files Comments Regarding Service Rules for Public Safety Spectrum
    06.19.2008 – The Wireless Emergency Communications (WEC) Project of the Wireless RERC filed comments in the FCC’s Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the service rules for the re-auction of the 700Mhz D-block spectrum [WT Docket No. 06-150 and PS Docket No. 06-229]. The D-block was set aside to be a public-private partnership between public safety and the commercial winner of the license. However, the initial auction of the D-block failed to receive a bid that met the reserve price. The FCC sought comment on service rules that would encourage a successful bid for public-private partnership that is mutually beneficial to public safety and the commercial provider and/or recommendations for achieving public safety goals without requiring a public-private partnership.
    Read more...

    Download Document [PDF]

  • “Wireless Emergency Communications: Accessible Alerts for People with Disabilities”
    Helena Mitchell presented the paper “Wireless Emergency Communications: Accessible Alerts for People with Disabilities” at the Technology and Deaf Education “Exploring Instructional and Access Technologies”, an International Symposium held at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology, June 23-25, 2008.

    View Presentation [Powerpoint]
    View Document [RTF]

  • Nathan W. Moon gave two presentations at the 2008 RESNA Conference
    Nathan W. Moon gave two presentations at the 2008 RESNA Conference in Washington, D.C.: (for Paul M. A. Baker) "Policy Issues and Access to Wireless Technologies: Results of a Policy Delphi Study" (Paul M. A. Baker and Nathan W. Moon), and "Reducing Technological Access Barriers for People with Disabilities: Developing a 'Collaborative Policy Network' among NIDRR-Sponsored Programs" (Nathan W. Moon and Paul M. A. Baker). The presentations took place on June 30, 2008, and the PowerPoint presentations from those talks are available below. Also available are the papers (in PDF format) accepted by RESNA.

    View Moon RESNA CPN Presentation [Powerpoint]
    View Baker RESNA Presentation [Powerpoint]
    View RESNA CPN paper (Moon) [PDF]
    View RESNA Wireless Delphi paper (Baker) [PDF]

  • "Emergency Communications for People with Disabilities”
    Helena Mitchell presented a session as part of the accessibility track at the 2008 NENA Annual 9-1-1 Conference and Trade Show held in Tampa, Florida June 9-11, 2008. Her presentation: “Next Generation Alerts: Reaching People with Disabilities” discussed current work on wireless devices capable of receiving emergency notifications and alerts in accessible formats. Insights included how the Emergency Alert System can provide emergency communications in a timely manner to people with disabilities.

    View Presentation [Powerpoint]
  • Municipal Wifi and Policy Implications For People With Disabilities
    Paul M.A. Baker and Jarice Hanson (UMASS Amherst) presented: “Municipal Wifi and Policy Implications For People With Disabilities.” at the 9th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (dg.o2008). Montreal, Canada, May 18-21, 2008. The paper also appears in the Proceedings of 9th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (dg.o2008). Montreal, Canada on May 18-21, 2008. The paper [Word doc] provides insight into the current state of municipal wireless network design and policies with regards to people with disabilities in the United States.

    View Presentation [Powerpoint]
    View Doc [Word]
  • Congratulations are to be extended to our own Dr. Helena Mitchell! She has been elected by the faculty of Georgia Tech to serve on the Academic Services Committee for a 3-year term.