TRAI’s SMS cap disappoints the hearing impaired
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is drawing flak from all corners for restricting the maximum number of SMSes to 100 per day. The cap on SMS is not only causing problems to telemarketers and teenagers but people with hearing disabilities as well. Hearing impaired people extensively use SMS as the primary mode of their mobile communication and the restriction has badly affected them.
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The Kerala Association for the Deaf has sought an exemption for the hearing disabled. The KAD chief Rajiv Kumar says people who furnish their medical certificates confirming their hearing disability should get an exemption to the SMS restriction. According to Kumar, SMS is a main mode of communication for a number of deaf people working in the government sector at lower-level posts.
Earlier, the TRAI restricted the number of SMS to 100 per day in a bid to stop telemarketers from bombarding subscribers’ with spam SMS. The regulatory body also asked the telecom operators to withdraw their SMS packs. The move to restrict SMS has so far drawn wide criticism from youth. Many believe the move to cap number of SMS may not prevent pesky calls, given the ultra low cost of SIMs nowadays. This would certainly lead to the usage of more SIM cards. Meanwhile, there’s no word from TRAI on the questions raised by the hearing impaired.
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