First of all I would like to say hello to every one of you out there, I wonder if I am the only one that is in the middle of huge storms which is here in the state of Kentucky in United States of America? If I am then I am glad that some of you aren’t experiencing being in the middle of insane storms that is brewing around along with a high possibility of flooding here in this area that I live in which is sometimes prone to flooding because where I lives there is a river that is often flooded when a huge storm with heavy rainfall hits here. While sitting inside my home feeling the huge of constant booms by heavy thunderstorms, I was going through a few of things here on the internet and I stumbled upon something that is very shocking to me but not only myself as I am sure that it also shocks several people who is Deaf or Hard Of Hearing. If you ask me if by saying shocking I mean as in a good way or bad way? My answer is in very terribly bad way to where that no Deaf or Hard Of Hearing just cannot sees it with their own eyes including my own eyes. A large local company flatly violated every Deaf or Hard Of Hearing customers of theirs civil rights even without our knowledge that we didn’t know that they violated Deaf or Hard Of Hearing rights until we had to see them ourselves.
Before I go on writing how did SuddenLink violated Deaf or Hard of Hearing people’s rights, I would like to note that SuddenLink is telecommunications company that provides some services to the people such as television, telephone, security, internet and a couple more of others I am sure but these are the main services that they are known for especially their blazing internet speed.
The official name of the company is SuddenLink Communications that provide telecommunication services mostly in the rural areas along with several businesses that are in the areas such as south of West Virginia and east of Kentucky but they provide services in a few exceptional areas although it is unknown exceptional areas that they service in. Nonetheless we, I and my mother have been their customer for either a decade or almost a decade by now especially with their internet service which is incredible especially recently as they have upgraded the internet speed from 15 mbps to 50 mbps which is a huge chance in speed for the internet. By increasing the speed of their internet service is a huge help especially for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing people because we need a bit faster to make our video phone provided by video relay service (VRS) smoother because the faster it is the higher quality for the video phone’s camera gets which that means better clarity that I can see the interpreters communicating in American Sign Language (ASL) and at same time the interpreter can see me speaking in American Sign Language for the interpreter to interpret what I say to the caller. So of course the Deaf or Hard of Hearing customers at SuddenLink were thrilled that SuddenLink increased the internet speed but then for a few months until just yesterday SuddenLink Communications decided to brutally violated both of mine and Deaf or Hard of Hearing people’s right to no ends by putting data limit on their internet service.
What? How can they violated our rights just because of.. Stop, stop that! In order for us Deaf or Hard of Hearing people to be able to make some calls using videophone provided by Video Relay Service under Federal Communications Commission they are required internet connection for us Deaf or Hard of Hearing people to be able to make calls to anyone we want to call whether it be our family, friends, doctors, 911 emergency or others so with that being said SuddenLink Communications putting data limit on the internet service means that our accessibility are being taken away by SuddenLink Communications themselves practically where Deaf or Hard of hearing’s way of making calls is now limited and SuddenLink Communications were more than happy to violate Deaf or Hard of Hearing rights as it seems. Deaf or Hard of Hearing’s way of communication through video relay service using the videophone provided by Video Relay Service under Federal Communication Commissions that require internet connection which they uses a huge amounts of data to make calls, making calls through video relay service makes us feel equal as it becomes our lifestyle everyday now as the TTY became obsoleted now but SuddenLink Communications decided to alter our lifestyle or making it to where we can’t have independence from putting data limit on the internet service. Now when I says equal, SuddenLink Communications made sure that their customers are unequal by doing so because where the internet service allows the Deaf or Hard of Hearing people to be able to make calls using their video phone through Video Relay Service are now limited as in we cannot call through video relay service as we pleases while SuddenLink Communications happily allowing their customers who can hear using their phone line service to call anyone they pleases with no limitation howsoever and does that sounds fair to you? NO!
It is shameful for SuddenLink Communications acting this way, adding data limit to the internet service to where Deaf or Hard of Hearing people cannot make calls through video relay service as they pleases because they are required unlimited data for internet service while SuddenLink Communications are smiling that their customers who can hear making calls how much ever they needs using their phone service line and we as Deaf or Hard of Hearing people don’t have that equal accessibility anymore because you SuddenLink took our way of making calls away by limiting data use of internet as we need unlimited data internet to have equal accessibility just like your customers that can hear can call as much as they pleases. In case if you don’t understand me clearly let me give you a very simple example.
The customers that can hear, they make calls using their phone service dial-up line which has never been limited to how much they can call.
The customers that cannot hear, they make calls using their internet service broadband cable line which is NOW limited to how much they can call.
Sound discrimination and unfair doesn’t it? Exactly!
Shame on you SuddenLink Communications for adding data limit on our internet service so that our life can be even harder while you are making it easy for your customers who are able to hear to make calls as much as they pleases while we as Deaf and Hard of Hearing people cannot because of data limit on our internet service by you SuddenLink Communications! I would not be surprised if you SuddenLink are not bothered that you SuddenLink flatly violated our rights as Deaf or Hard of Hearing people who this means you SuddenLink are audism! Don’t know what audism means? At least I care enough to help you unlike you SuddenLink!
A term typically used to describe physical, cultural and linguistic discrimination against deaf or hard of hearing people.
I have filed a complaint to Federal Communications Commission (FCC), National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and others because you SuddenLink made us Deaf/Hard of Hearing feeling oppressed for your action in making our life more difficult of not being able to call anyone as we pleases to while your customers who can hear enjoying their calls as much as they can as it is not limited like now ours because of you SuddenLink! Shame, shame and shame. To think that I was a huge supporter of you SuddenLink ever since both of us becoming friends with each others and I volunteered my time to get Deaf or Hard of Hearing people to become your customers because you SuddenLink were providing blazing speed internet with NO limit at that time that helps their way of calling easier due to the internet speed you offer but then you degraded me/us in return for that so that is the thanks I get I assume.
SuddenLink if you do at least have an ounce of warmth in your heart, I suggest lift the data limit off the internet service so that you can give every customers of you equal service because with limiting our internet which is what requires us to be able to calls as much as we pleases but cannot now while you provide the customers that can hear with your phone service that is unlimited as they can make as many as calls as much as they pleases which is NOT equal service at all for all of your customers. If you don’t know what exactly is video relay service then I would recommend to read a written article on FCC website about Video Relay Service for Deaf or Hard of Hearing people: https://www.fcc.gov/guides/video-relay-services
As for all of my readers I would like to apologize because I realize that I have somewhat repeats too much over and over but I hope that all of you can understand my frustration for SuddenLink Communication actions that flatly violated our rights by making our customers service unequal. The time is running out so I must get going but I am going to make a promise to you all that I will write an article either tomorrow night or in a couple of days without any complains from me so I hope that all of you my readers forgive me. Thank you all so much for all of your time reading here and I hope that every one of you have a great night. Please be safe wherever all of you are at or be safe doing whatever it is that all of you are planning on to do for tonight and stay awesome my friends!
P.S. Be sure to follow me on Twitter, on Instagram and like me on Facebook! If you wonder the website to SuddenLink Communications it is SuddenLink.com.
- Joshie.
