The ongoing debate over whether and to what extent wireless carriers may exercise editorial control over text messaging has expanded to broader issues of accessibility by the deaf and blind communities. In December the Federal Communications Commission issued a call for commentary on possible new regulation of text messaging to find an appropriate balance between free speech, business competition, and public protection from unwanted or malicious messages.

Yesterday two groups, the Communication Service for the Deaf and the American Foundation for the Blind made a public appeal to have text messaging reclassified as a telecommunications service so that wireless carriers would be required to convert "these inherently visual messages to another form, providing people with various types of disabilities an equal opportunity to use this important communications tool."

For details of yesterday's public appeal, see the articles in the Washington Post and Computerworld below:

- http://blog.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2008/04/for_months_consumer_advocates.html?nav=rss_blog

- http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyId=13&articleId=9077679&intsrc=hm_topic