Posts Tagged ‘Disability’
Pilot Program Launched For Equipment Funding For Low-Income Deaf-Blind
Posted on April 8, 2011The FCC has established a two-year National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (Pilot Program) to help fund advanced telecommunications equipment for low-income, deaf-blind individuals. Under the Pilot Program, the FCC will certify and provide funding to one entity in each state to distribute the equipment to qualifying low-income, deaf-blind individuals, who face unusually high medical and disability-related costs. The Pilot Program implements a provision of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, which allocated $10 million annually from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund for the nationwide equipment distribution effort.
FCC Seeks Comment on New Accessibility Rules for Advanced Communications Services
Posted on March 7, 2011The Commission seeks comment on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the requirements of new sections of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to Section 104 of Title I of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (Accessibility Act). Specifically, Section 716 requires that providers of “advanced communications services” (e.g., VoIP, electronic messaging and interoperable video conferencing) and manufacturers of equipment used for ACS make their services and products accessible to people with disabilities, unless it is not achievable to do so. Section 717 directs the FCC to establish recordkeeping and enforcement procedures for these manufacturers and service providers. The Accessibility Act was enacted in October 2010 and requires the FCC to promulgate rules within one year of enactment. The comprehensive NPRM seeks comment on several foundational issues of the proposed accessibility rules, including the scope of coverage, industry flexibility, obligations and performance objectives, and industry guidance. In addition, the NPRM seeks comment on Section 718, which requires manufacturers and service providers to make mobile Internet browsers accessible to people who are blind or have visual impairments. Unlike the previous sections, however, the Section 718 requirements will take effect three years after enactment of the Accessibility Act. Comments on this NPRM will be due 30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register, which has not yet occurred. Reply comments will be due 30 days thereafter.
Comment Sought on Proposed Changes to TRS Fund Contribution Rules
Posted on March 7, 2011The FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would modify its Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund contribution rules. Currently, providers of interstate and international telecommunications services and interconnected voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service contribute to the TRS Fund. A new requirement set forth in the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (Accessibility Act) requires providers of “non-interconnected VoIP service” (e.g., one-way VoIP services and IP-based voice services that do not require a broadband connection) to contribute to the TRS Fund. Among other things, the NPRM proposes to conform the definition of “interconnected VoIP service” to the definition in the Accessibility Act, amend the FCC’s TRS Fund contribution rules and apply the $25 per year minimum contribution requirement only to contributors who have subject revenues. Comment is sought on numerous related issues, including free services, providers’ administrative costs, possible zero and de minimis contributions, FCC Form 499-A, a possible interim safe harbor percentage for calculating interstate end-user revenues and the implementation deadline. Comments on this NPRM will be due 30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register, which has not yet occurred. Reply comments will be due 15 days thereafter.
FCC Proposes Accessibility Pilot Program; Comment Sought on Interim Rules
Posted on January 18, 2011The FCC proposes to implement and adopt interim rules for an 18-to-24-month pilot program of a National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (Program), which would implement Section 105 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010. The Program would make telecommunications service, Internet access service, and advanced communications accessible to low income, deaf-blind individuals who cannot afford the specialized communications equipment needed to access these services. The proposed pilot program would rely primarily on existing, state-run equipment distribution programs (EDPs), but would also fill the gap in equipment distribution in states that lack EDPs. Comments on the pilot program and its interim rules are due by February 4, 2011, and reply comments are due by February 14, 2011.
FCC Announces Membership of New Accessibility Committee
Posted on December 8, 2010FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has announced the appointment of members to the newly established Video Programming and Emergency Access Advisory Committee (VPEAAC). VPEAAC is an advisory committee that was formed pursuant to the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 to develop recommendations on a number of accessibility issues pertaining to video and emergency information on the Internet, including closed captioning and video description. Chairman Genachowski has appointed 45 members, 12 of which represent video programming distributors and providers. VPEAAC’s first meeting will take place on January 13, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. at the FCC’s Washington, DC headquarters and will be open to the public.