Allow unlimited data access for the deaf customers

The Issue

 

Major cell phone companies here in the U.S such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless have played their major roles for many years. In the recent years, AT&T and Verizon Wireless were forced to make a decision to revise their wireless plans for million of customers across the nation. Here are the examples: AT&T and Verizon Wireless have decided to end the unlimited data plan into limited data plan options. They also added a choice of talk plan such as UNLIMITED TALK minutes which gives millions of customers the option to talk as long as they can without being charged for over minutes. The deaf and hard of hearing customers used to have an option and that is unlimited data access, understanding this, deaf cannot hear on the phone, unfortunately, they don't have the advantage of unlimited talk, AT&T and Verizon Wireless, over the past years, ended unlimited data plans and give millions and millions of deaf customers to their limited data access. The people of the U.S., including the cell phone companies need to understand that this is exclusively exceptional for the deaf and hard of hearing people. Because, the deaf and hard of hearing cannot hear on the phone, however, they use a lot of data access to make VRS (video relay calls), deaf and hard of hearing people are no longer TTY. In addition to that, hearing people have unlimited talk options so they can call their families and friends as long as they can, however, deaf people can't. The deaf and hard of hearing people need lots of data access to make important VRS calls, to make calls to their deaf friends (using the webcam and that requires data access) and communicate by using sign language. I'm putting this petition together to inform not only the decision-maker, but to all that deaf and hard of hearing people deserve to be treated as equal as to the hearing people on the unlimited talk plan idea. The carriers can decide which resolution to take to make it equal for deaf customers to receive full accessible and equivalent as hearing people had received (this refers to unlimited talk). That being said, we are given limited choices of what we get from the companies, because of those choices, we aren't considered equally to what hearing people have. Because of the limited choices, we have no choice but to stick with limited choices that the companies had given us. 

 

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Major Cell Phone CompaniesPetition Starter
This petition had 11,750 supporters

The Issue

 

Major cell phone companies here in the U.S such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless have played their major roles for many years. In the recent years, AT&T and Verizon Wireless were forced to make a decision to revise their wireless plans for million of customers across the nation. Here are the examples: AT&T and Verizon Wireless have decided to end the unlimited data plan into limited data plan options. They also added a choice of talk plan such as UNLIMITED TALK minutes which gives millions of customers the option to talk as long as they can without being charged for over minutes. The deaf and hard of hearing customers used to have an option and that is unlimited data access, understanding this, deaf cannot hear on the phone, unfortunately, they don't have the advantage of unlimited talk, AT&T and Verizon Wireless, over the past years, ended unlimited data plans and give millions and millions of deaf customers to their limited data access. The people of the U.S., including the cell phone companies need to understand that this is exclusively exceptional for the deaf and hard of hearing people. Because, the deaf and hard of hearing cannot hear on the phone, however, they use a lot of data access to make VRS (video relay calls), deaf and hard of hearing people are no longer TTY. In addition to that, hearing people have unlimited talk options so they can call their families and friends as long as they can, however, deaf people can't. The deaf and hard of hearing people need lots of data access to make important VRS calls, to make calls to their deaf friends (using the webcam and that requires data access) and communicate by using sign language. I'm putting this petition together to inform not only the decision-maker, but to all that deaf and hard of hearing people deserve to be treated as equal as to the hearing people on the unlimited talk plan idea. The carriers can decide which resolution to take to make it equal for deaf customers to receive full accessible and equivalent as hearing people had received (this refers to unlimited talk). That being said, we are given limited choices of what we get from the companies, because of those choices, we aren't considered equally to what hearing people have. Because of the limited choices, we have no choice but to stick with limited choices that the companies had given us. 

 

avatar of the starter
Major Cell Phone CompaniesPetition Starter

The Decision Makers

Sprint
Responded
Sprint Relay is committed to serving the deaf community. For more than 20 years, Sprint Relay has been the nation’s premier provider of Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have a speech disability to communicate over the phone. In addition to our Relay services, the Sprint Relay Store offers a data only wireless plan. The plan is a great value for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability. The Sprint Relay Store Data plan includes: •Unlimited email •Unlimited Internet Access •Unlimited Instant Messaging (IM) •Unlimited Domestic Text and Picture Messaging (SMS) •Incoming calls are blocked on all devices. The block is not removable (Note: 9-1-1 will not be blocked) •Outgoing voice calls will be billed at $0.20/min for local voice calls or $0.40/min for long distance voice calls. For applicable data only pricing on Smartphones and Basic phones email vcs@sprint.com or for more information visit www.sprintrelaystore.com Thank you. Marci VerBrugge-Rhind Corporate Responsibility Communications Sprint
T-Mobile
T-Mobile
Cell Phone company

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Petition created on April 21, 2013