PUC-funded NFB Newsline Hawaii showcases access tools, demos and outreach plans for print-disabled residents

The Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 13 hosted a presentation and demonstration of NFB Newsline Hawaii, the National Federation of the Blind’s transcription and reading service funded by the PUC and the Hawaii Department of Human Services. The session explained who is eligible, how to access the service by phone, mobile app, braille e‑reader and Amazon Alexa, and outlined outreach plans for 2026.

The program exists under state law and a PUC appropriation. “Act 247 session laws Hawaii 2023 mandated that the commission appropriate $150,000 for each of the next 2 fiscal years to provide free telecommunications access to certain information for persons with print disability,” Andrew, a PUC utility analyst and contract manager for the print disability assistance program, said. He said the commission contracted with the National Federation of the Blind for $119,900 and reserved roughly $30,000 for contract management and reporting.

The demonstration emphasized multiple access methods and features. “NFB Newsline Hawaii is an essential resource that really empowers our print disabled community to stay informed, to be independent, and to be connected,” said Luanne Blake, NFB Newsline Hawaii program manager, who walked attendees through categories such as breaking news, local and state channels, magazines and job listings and showed how subscribers can email articles to themselves, change voice and speed, and save favorites.

Jack Mendez, the NFB’s national Newsline program manager, said the national organization maintains the infrastructure and is working to add more local publications and accessibility features. “We are continuing to work on our new voices that are accessible from the cloud,” Mendez said, and encouraged listeners to request publications for their islands.

Users who spoke about their experience described daily or professional uses. Anne Da Silva Williams, a retired University of Hawaii professor, described using an iPhone, a Victor Reader Stream device and a braille e‑reader to access content in English and Spanish. Student user Emery Mitchell Butler said Newsline helps her follow STEM magazines and social conversations with peers. Longtime subscriber Donald Sakamboro said he relies on Newsline for transportation and legislative research and asked technical questions about busy phone lines.

On capacity, Mendez acknowledged limits to the touch‑tone phone system and said NFB is expanding the service. “We are expanding capacity for the touch tone phone service to allow more subscribers to call in simultaneously,” he said, in response to a user who reported hearing repeated “still processing your request” prompts late at night.

Blake outlined planned outreach for 2026 — a community Zoom meeting in February, outreach at the Hawaii Association of the Blind convention in March, and visits to neighbor‑island chapters and kupuna support groups — and gave an approximate subscriber total: “We’re close to 900 people subscribers,” she said.

Attendees asked about language support and email delivery of international content. Mendez said broader language menus and support are under consideration but there is no timeline yet; he also noted that adding some requested publications can incur costs and that NFB tracks demand.

The PUC‑sponsored demonstration closed with instructions for sign‑up: prospective subscribers or certifying authorities can contact the NFB Newsline Hawaii help desk at (800) 955‑6169 or apply online at nfbnewsline.org. Blake and NFB staff invited further input on publications and device features as they continue outreach across Hawaii’s islands.

Next steps: community Zoom outreach in February and continuing neighbor‑island outreach and publication requests to NFB for consideration.