Thread Subject: Re: FW: TIA Request for Guidance(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)

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From: Diane Golden
Date: Wed, Nov 15 2006 1:05 PM

Thanks for the VPAT narrative example. So as a rater/reviewer, I would have
to say the base product bid does NOT conform to that standard. The base
product does not provide 20 dB of gain as is required by the standard so it
does not conform. Is that how federal procurement reviewers have been
rating conformance to that standard? Does a phone with 15 dB of gain
"better conform" using the "best meets" language of 508?

Diane Golden

-----Original Message-----
From: John Combs (jcombs) [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 1:50 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ; TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee
Subject: RE: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request for Guidance
(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)


Speaking from a manufacturer's standpoint, on our ITI-format Voluntary
Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) for the 20 dB amplification
requirement, we state:

"Supports when combined with compatible Assistive Technology"

"Cisco IP Phones meets the FCC 68 requirements for volume gain of
minimum of 12dB of gain from default factor setting. To achieve 20dB or
greater, Cisco recommends using an inline amplifier, such as Walker
Clarity CE-125, or Ameriphone Clarity HA-30. The Plantronics Clarity
EC225/ECE225* inline amplifier is an example of a manufacturer selling
3rd party handset and headset amplifiers. Recommended headset
amplifiers can be viewed through the following URL:
http://www.plantronics.com/media/media_resources/literature/user_guides/
cisco_setup.pdf
"

Most of our IP phones actually have 15 dB of gain, but for some reason
no one wrote that into our VPAT!

- John Combs

P.S.: Web link to info about the HA-30 & CE-125 inline handset cord
amplifiers:
http://www.twacomm.com/catalog/model_AME-01931.htm?sid=70GN0CH3EMG69NA95
KNC8EL2T56XBPP9


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Diane
Golden
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 10:21 AM
To: 'TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee'
Subject: Re: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request for Guidance
(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)

So if in reality the phones coming to federal procurers or looked at
during market research do NOT meet the 20dB gain standard - how have
those products been reviewed/rated in terms of conformance to that
access requirement? What is the thinking in the purchase decision
making process? Do the phones with 15 get some sort of bonus over those
with just 12? Can any of the federal purchasers on this listserv
clarify?

Thanks,
Diane

Diane Cordry Golden, Ph.D.



-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]On Behalf Of Rebecca
Schwartz
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 9:14 AM
To: TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee
Subject: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request for Guidance (TEITAC
Discussionsof 2006.11.13)


Hi, all, this is Steve Whitesell's response to the question raised on
Monday's conference call as to whether there are phones capable of
exceeding 12 db gain without significant battery drain. The short
answer is no, but please read his entire response.

Rebecca Schwartz, Esq.
Manager, Regulatory and Government Affairs TIA 2500 Wilson Blvd. Ste.
300 Arlington, VA 22201
703.907.7477 (OFFICE)
703.395.7511 (CELL)
703.907.7727 (FAX)

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Whitesell [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 1:42 AM
To: Rebecca Schwartz
Cc: John Derr; Bill Belt
Subject: TIA Request for Guidance (TEITAC Discussions of 2006.11.13)






Hi Becky

I am responding to John Derr's request below.

I believe most mass market telephones provide receive volume controls
with
a gain in the 12 to 15 dB range. There may be some that provide more,
but
I am not aware of specific models that I can point to. If you want, I
could contact representatives of Uniden, Panasonic, and Thomson (GE
Phones)
to ask that question. I can tell you that VTech phones (VTech and AT&T
brands) have gains in the 12 to 15 dB range.

If there are any mass market phones providing greater gain, they are
most
likely ac powered corded telephones. Simple telephone-line-powered
telephones like the basic 500 set and the Trimline(R) simply do not have
enough power available to them from the telephone line to provide gains
on
the order of 20 dB. Likewise, most cordless handsets do not have the
voltage swing capability to provide that much gain without introducing
severe distortion. I would think that corded telephones operating on
power
provided from a plug in wall transformer could be designed to provide
higher receive gain levels, but there are not that many of them in the
marketplace.

It is probably worth pointing out that the FCC rules on volume control
specify gain with respect to a "nominal" starting value that has to be
within certain limits on loudness. It is possible to create a larger
"range" by having low volume settings below the nominal value in
addition
to having high volume settings above it. But to meet the FCC
requirements, a product has to have at least 12 dB of gain above the
nominal value. Additional "range" achieved by having volume settings
below
the nominal value does not count from the viewpoint of FCC compliance.

Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions on this
subject or at any time you feel I can be of help.

Steve

Stephen R Whitesell
Chair, TIA TR-41
Senior Technical Consultant
Standards, Regulatory, and
Intellectual Property Matters
VTech Communications
2 Shannon Ct
Howell, NJ 07731
Tel: 732 751 1079
Email: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =




----- Forwarded by Steve Whitesell/ENG/VTNCAN/VTECH on 11/15/2006 12:11
AM
-----


"John Derr"

<JDerr@tiaonline. To: "Steve
Whitesell" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
org> cc: "Bill Belt"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, "Rebecca
Schwartz"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
11/14/2006 12:44 Subject: TIA Request for
Guidance (TEITAC Discussions
PM of 2006.11.13)












Good Afternoon Steve,



Hope all going well for you as we start to head into Thanksgiving
season. You may be aware that TIA just added a new attorney to our
External Affairs Department, Rebecca Schwartz. Becky was on yesterday's
TEITAC Telecom call where the group was having discussions regarding,

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