Thread Subject: Re: TTYs

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From: Jim Tobias
Date: Tue, Jan 09 2007 12:30 PM

Judy Harkins wrote, regarding TTYs:

> Believe me, I want to move on too... but even setting a
> timetable should involve some more input from government
> people about what is being used. Ditto on the extent to
> which people are being blocked from using videophones or
> captel or even commercial IM.

I agree, and input from all the other stakeholders is needed as well.
I continue to believe that there is a vast, unharvested bounty of
opinion to transcend the Baudot TTY. It will clearly happen, in
a planned or unplanned way; planned would be faster, cheaper,
and better for all. But is there the will to explore the barriers
and drive the migration?

Gregg wrote, also regarding TTYs:

> I still would like to find some way of retiring TTYs either
> now or when their number gets small enough that they are more
> trouble to accommodate than useful.

We're already there. The total cost of accommodating Baudot,
including compatibility testing of all new telecom products,
is greater than the cost of subsidizing a mainstream text product
and service for every current TTY user. The problem is, that
would be a measure of total "social cost" and we may not be good
enough at arranging policies to reduce resistance from those who
either objectively benefit from the status quo or for whom the
transition would be extra, unwelcome work.

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