[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 61 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 13813-13814] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-7583] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines for Customer Premises Equipment and Telecommunications Equipment AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. ACTION: Notice of intent to establish advisory committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) announces its intent to establish a Telecommunications Access Advisory Committee (Committee) to develop accessibility guidelines under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and requests applications from interested organizations for representatives to serve on the Committee. The Committee will make recommendations to the Access Board on accessibility guidelines for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment. DATES: Applications should be received by April 29, 1996. ADDRESSES: Applications should be sent to the Office of Technical and Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, 1331 F Street, NW., suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20004-1111. Fax number (202) 272-5447. Applications may also be sent via electronic mail to the Access Board at the following address: [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Cannon, Office of Technical and Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, 1331 F Street, NW., suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20004-1111. Telephone number (202) 272-5434 extension 35 (Voice); (202) 272-5449 (TTY). Electronic mail address: [email protected]. This document is available in alternate formats (cassette tape, braille, large print, or computer disc) upon request. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 8, 1996, the President signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) is responsible for developing accessibility guidelines in conjunction [[Page 13814]] with the Federal Communications Commission under section 255(e) of the Act for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment.1 \1\ The Access Board is an independent Federal agency established by section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, whose primary mission is to promote accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The Access Board consists of 25 members. Thirteen are appointed by the President from among the public, a majority of who are required to be individuals with disabilities. The other twelve are heads of the following Federal agencies or their designees whose positions are Executive Level IV or above: The Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Interior, Defense, Justice, Veterans Affairs, and Commerce; General Services Administration; and United States Postal Services. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The term ``telecommunications equipment'' is defined as equipment, other than customer premises equipment, used by a carrier to provide telecommunications services, and includes software integral to such equipment (including upgrades). Public Law 104-104, section 3(a)(2)(50). The term ``customer premises equipment'' is defined as equipment employed on the premises of a person (other than a carrier) to originate, route, or terminate telecommunications. Public Law 104- 104, section 3(a)(2)(38). The Telecommunications Act requires the accessibility guidelines to be issued within 18 months after the date of enactment. The Board is also required to review and update the guidelines periodically. The Board's guidelines for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment are required to principally address the access needs of individuals with disabilities affecting hearing, vision, movement, manipulation, speech, and interpretation of information. The Senate report to the Telecommunications Act directs the Board to develop its guidelines by involving parties affected by the law. ``The Committee expects that manufacturers of equipment and providers of service will be fully included in this process.'' S. Rept. 104-23, at 53. Throughout the process of developing its guidelines, the Access Board, in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission, intends to coordinate and consult with representatives of individuals with disabilities and interested telecommunications equipment and service providers to ensure that their concerns and interests are given full consideration in the rulemaking process. The Access Board will begin the process of developing the accessibility guidelines by establishing a Telecommunications Access Advisory Committee. The establishment of the Committee is in the public interest and will support the agency in performing its duties and responsibilities under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Access Board believes that the Committee will facilitate the involvement of individuals with disabilities and telecommunications equipment and service providers in the development of the guidelines. The Committee will make recommendations to the Access Board on issues such as:Types of equipment to be covered by the guidelines; Barriers to the use of such equipment by persons with disabilities affecting hearing, vision, movement, manipulation, speech, and interpretation of information; Solutions to such barriers, if known, categorized by disability (different solutions may be needed for different disabilities) and research on such barriers; and Contents of the guidelines. The Committee will be expected to present a report with its recommendations to the Access Board within six months of the Committee's first meeting. The Access Board requests applications from organizations representing the following interests for membership on the Committee: Manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment; Manufacturers and developers of peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access; Organizations representing the access needs of individuals with disabilities affecting hearing, vision, movement, manipulation, speech, and interpretation of information; Telecommunications providers and carriers; Developers of telecommunications software; and Other persons affected by these accessibility guidelines. The number of Committee members will be limited to effectively accomplish the Committee's work and will be balanced in terms of interests represented. Organizations with similar interests are encouraged to nominate a single organization to represent their interest. Although the Committee will be limited in size, there will be opportunities for the public to present written information to the Committee, participate through the Internet and to comment at Committee meetings. Applications should be sent to the Access Board at the address listed at the beginning of this notice. The application should include a statement of the organization's interests and the name, title, address and telephone number of the person who would represent the organization on the Committee. The application should also describe the person's qualifications, including any experience the person has had with making telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment accessible to individuals with disabilities. Committee members will not be compensated for their service. The Access Board may pay travel expenses for a limited number of persons who would otherwise be unable to participate on the Committee. Committee members will serve as representatives of their organizations, not as individuals. They will not be considered special government employees and will not be required to file confidential financial disclosure reports. After the applications have been reviewed, the Access Board will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the appointment of Committee members and the first meeting of the Committee. The first meeting of the Committee is tentatively scheduled for June 10-12, 1996 in Washington, D.C. The Committee will operate in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app 2. Committee meetings will be held in Washington, D.C. Each meeting will be open to the public. A notice of each meeting will be published in the Federal Register at least fifteen days in advance of the meeting. Records will be kept of each meeting and made available for public inspection. Judith E. Heumann, Chairman, U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. [FR Doc. 96-7583 Filed 3-27-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8150-01-P