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 MAR  22  2flflo 
 Magalie  Roman  S 


 IJpper  Street  R  'I,  Box  811 
 Turner  ME  04282  March  14,  2000 


 Office  of  the  Secretary  Federal  Communications  Commission 
 445  Twelfth  Street,  S.  W.  'I‘  W-  A1325 
 Washington  DC  20554 


 Dear  Reader: 
 I  am  writing  this  letter  in  support  of  the  proposed  descriptive  video  rules  under  MM  docket  number  99-  339. 


 I  am  blind,  legally  and  now,  in  fact.  I  was  first  declared  blind  a  4  years  of  age,  but  "passed"  as  a  sighted  person  until  14 
 years  ago  when  it  became  necessary  for  me  to  give  up  my  job  as  Supervising  Elementary  School  Principal. 


 Television  has  been  a  large  part  of  my  life  since  I  was  a  teenager,  and  saw  my  first  "Musical  Interlude."  and  "Test  Pattern." 
 I  will  not  take  the  time  and  space  here  to  list  all  the  usual  arguments  I  have  seen  proposed  for  Descriptive  Television,  but  I 
 would  like  to  put  forth  one  I  find  very  important  for  myself. 
 There  is  a  social  aspect  to  television.  If  one  has  lost  their  vision  there  are  many  things  that  they  can  not  do  in  a  functional 
 way  with  the  rest  of  the  family.  Television,  without  description,  is  one  of  those  things.  The  blind  person  has  a  tendency  to  leave 
 the  television  viewing  area  and  seek  out  some  activity,  almost  always  of  a  solitary  nature,  to  occupy  themselves.  (Of  course, 
 some  would  say  this  is  a  more  productive  use  of  time,  but  it  is  isolating.  )  Descriptive  Television  allows  me  to  participate  with 
 others  watching  the  described  program  without  intruding  on  their  enjoyment.  (I  have  never  heard  anyone  complain  about  the  very  well 
 done,  described  programs  I  have  listened  to  with  others.  I  am  sure  it  is  possible  to  describe  a  program  so  poorly  that  sighted  people 
 are  annoyed,  I  have  personally  experienced  the  annoyance  of  others  when  some  individual  has  been  attempting  to  tell  me  what  is  going 
 on  during  a  film) 
 Well  enough.  I  am  sure  you  get  the  point.  Blindness  is  isolating.  Television  is  one  of  those  area  where  blindness  limits 
 an  individuals  participation.  Descriptive  Television  allows  those  who  can  rlot  see  to  take  part  in  what  is  otherwise  an  isolating 
 activity. 
 Thank  you  for  your  attention.  No&  cdco&  p  mc’d 
 -0  Very  truly  yours, 


 J.  M.  Pease,  Ed.  D. 
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