COAT Affiliate Leaders Ask for Better Broadband Survey Data Questions About Users with Disabilities

On Thursday June 3, 2010, two COAT affiliate leaders -- Jim Tobias of Inclusive Technologies and Alexandra Enders of the University of Montana Rural Institute -- participated in “The Broadband Researchers’ Data Workshop” run by the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA), part of the US Department of Commerce. The purpose of the event was to develop a worthwhile survey instrument for an upcoming Internet Use Supplement, as part of federal statistics gathering activities with the new survey anticipated in July 2011.  Participants were encouraged to ask specific proposed questions and to provide rationales for such questions. The focus of the discussion was both the Internet and computers and to update a previous statistics-gathering tool, the October 2003 Computer and Internet Use Supplement’s survey instrument.  Disability advocates have long been concerned about the lack of sufficient data about people with disabilities' use of information technology and the Internet with many surveys not including our usage, the barriers to use or adoption, or other aspects. COAT participants reported that “disability” was included spontaneously at various points in the discussion, and was probably the only minority concern to receive focused attention.

Tobias and Enders were active participants, indicating that the disability community is very interested in these matters. They emphasized two needs for better disability data in regard to broadband adoption and use research.  The first is to help inform ICT companies about the potential market size for accessibility features such as enhanced audio quality and enlarged text. The second is to help provide data to support legal & regulatory action, such as Section 255 of the Telecom Act and Section 508 of the Rehabiliation Act.

Broadband experts participating either in person or via online, included experts from NTIA, U.S. Census Bureau, and the Current Population Survey or CPS, as well as researchers from Northwestern University, Texas and Alaska. To advocates' delight, the webinar was captioned, and this was without anyone from the community asking for it specifically! COAT likes Section 508 compliance!