CER2520@ritvax.bitnet (Curtis E. Reid) (06/02/90)
I've been away on vacation and imagine my surprise the "flame war"
that I started! :-)
Okay ... from the articles that were posted in several issues of
TELECOM Digest, it appears there are several major issues that were
raised in response to my concern that AT&T might discontinue the TDD
discount for deaf customers. These issues that the readers brought up
are indirectly and directly related to the use of TDD discount.
Allow me to explain the reasoning why AT&T deaf customers have TDD
discount. It is *not* a discount per se (like 50% etc.) but rather
use of time-of-day rate at the time of call made. I.E., if I call
during the daytime (Day Rate), I get billed at the Evening Rate. If I
call during the evening (and Evening Rate), I get the Night Rate.
Likewise, if I call during the Night Rate, I still get the Night Rate.
And, they are all direct-dialed.
The following schedule for direct dialed inter-state calls is pretty
common in many states:
Time Actual Called Rate Actual Billed
Day Rate ---> Evening Rate
Evening Rate ---> Night Rate
Night Rate ---> Night Rate
Some states also offer similar rate schedule like above for intrastate
calls; although I do not know what PacBell, SouthWest, and other
companies offer. I'd like to hear from readers who might know about
it in those areas.
And, the most common restriction regarding the TDD discount is that it
is offered only for one residential line. So, if you have a couple
residential lines, you get the TDD discount only on one line. If you
think you can get these discounts on multiple lines, forget it. And,
AT&T must be your primary long distance carrier.
Another thing, you must fill out an application and have it signed by
an physician or audiologist to certify that you are hearing impaired,
you are unable to hear or speak well to communicate aurally, and you
rely on TDD. The telephone company that processes your application
will call you on TDD to verify that you do indeed have a TDD to
answer.
These procedure may vary in some states and local telephone companies.
For example, Rochester Telephone Corp. is probably the most unique in
the country because it uses a calling card billing to give TDD users a
TDD discount. Apparently, their billing system cannot handle the
discount on direct-dialed (1+a/c+nbr) so the workaround is to use the
calling card with a special prefix 534. This practice has continued
for many years and it seems likely that Roch Tel will not modify their
system because AT&T will soon be doing its billing in July or so.
Back to my concern that I addressed earlier, I was concerned about the
news that AT&T might consider removing the TDD discount because no
other long distance carriers (MCI, Sprint, etc.) carries this
discount. So, the idea is if they don't carry the TDD discount, why
should AT&T? I contacted AT&T but they deny or plead ignorance so I
don't know whether it will be implemented when they do the billing
later this year. I simply hope this is just a pure rumor.
To address other concerns of issue: Why should deaf customers who use
TDD get the discount? Why don't they upgrade TDD units to 1200 or
higher bps? Are deaf people really economically disadvantaged? Is
the TDD discounts fair? I think all these pretty sums it up what
readers have posted to TELECOM Digest. I'll answer each questions and
you can tell me whether you agree or disagree but let's not start a
flame war, please.
Why should deaf customers who use TDD get the discount? If you look
at the rate schedule I mentioned earlier, there isn't really any
additional discounts -- just a shift of the rate with time of the day.
But, the real answer, that some of you have already answered, is that
a communication via TDD takes two to four times longer depending on
the user's typing skills. Even at 45 WPM is too slow for me but it is
the fastest TDDs are designed to handle. Some people type slower than
45 WPM. This is an equitable way to equalize the cost of a voice call
versus TDD call.
To give you an idea, if I spoke the following sentence "Mary had a
little lamb.", it will only take me five seconds to say it. Now, if I
typed that on a TDD, it takes fifteen seconds. Now, for fun exercise,
record a five-minute conversation with another person. Just five
minutes. When you are done, play back the conversation. Repeat the
entire conversation by typing it into a computer or typewriter.
Record the time start and time end. When you are done, figure how
long it is. Add another twwo minutes for pausing and "GA"s. That's
how long. My guess it is between fifteen to twenty minutes or longer
if you speak fast.
Why don't they upgrade TDD units to 1200 or higher bps? I encourage
the use of ASCII and higher speed. Unfortunately, TDD is a 1960
technology which uses the outdated BAUDOT code (5-bit) and there is a
large installed base of approximately one million. Many people have
invested in TDDs and consider purchase of a TDD to be significant.
So, residential TDD customers would rather keep their TDDs as long as
it is still working. When it breaks down after five to seven years,
then they'll buy another TDD. So, the cycle repeats. I feel that
this will continue well into the 21st century. Until they are willing
to use ASCII instead of TDD to communicate, TDD is here to stay.
Are deaf people really economically disadvantaged? I would say
between 75%-80% are economically disadvantaged. The rest are
well-to-do with good income. But, for the most part, they live
between poverty and low middle income. (I consider less than $13,000
to be poverty.) So, they have to eat which takes up about 40% of
their income. Rent and taxes are two other major expenses. So, there
isn't much room for luxury items. As far as I know, there isn't many
deaf managers in corporations or in executives. Oh, I'll say there
are in high-level manager positions but it's few and far between.
Every penny counts.
Is the TDD discounts fair? To regular customers like yourself?
That's a matter of opinion. Some say it's not fair because it
subsidize deaf people. Who is to say it's fair that blind people get
an extra exemption on their federal income tax return? Who is to say
it's fair that the elderly gets LifeLine service? Alas, the world is
not what we'd like it to be. There are so much prejudice and bias
that the government has to assist those disadvantaged. If *all* the
companies would hire blind, deaf, physically handicapped and others
equally and equitably then we won't have any problems with
subsidization. Until that day that everyone would be treated equally
(and it is coming soon now that the Congress is close to passing a
civil rights bill for the handicapped that prevents discrimination in
employment and other places), subsidization is necessary.
Consider yourself. What kind of job are you working? Is this job
something a deaf person can do? What about your friends? Are they
receptive to deaf or handicapped people? I can go on and on but I'm
sure you get the idea now.
I know I'm at the risk of starting a discussion on the merits of deaf
people versus other people and the use of subsidization. Please bear
in mind that I'm writing in response to some of the comments/remarks
that some of you made. What I have said earlier represents my views
and opinion and is in no way represents the opinions of *anyone* else.
Well, that's it from me. TDD specs and history are in the Telecom
archives if you want to look further into it.
Curtis Reid
CER2520@RITVAX.Bitnet
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