[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19839-19840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5761]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD
36 CFR Parts 1193 and 1194
[Docket No. 2006-1]
Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines; Electronic and
Information Technology Accessibility Standards
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 an Advisory Committee
(Committee) to make recommendations for revisions and updates to
accessibility guidelines for telecommunications products and
accessibility standards for electronic and information technology. The
Access Board requests applications from interested organizations for
representatives to serve on the Committee.
DATES: Applications should be received by May 18, 2006.
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, DC 20004-
1111. Fax number (202) 272-0081. Applications may also be sent via
electronic mail to the Access Board at the following address:
board.gov">creagan@access-board.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Creagan, Office of Technical
and Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board, 1331 F Street, NW., suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-
1111. Telephone number (202) 272-0016 (Voice); (202) 272-0082 (TTY).
Electronic mail address: board.gov">creagan@access-board.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 8, 1996, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was
enacted. The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
(Access Board) \1\ was given the responsibility for developing
accessibility guidelines for telecommunications equipment and customer
premises equipment in conjunction with the Federal Communications
Commission. The Board was also instructed to review and update the
guidelines periodically. The Board published the guidelines on February
3, 1998. 63 FR 5608 (February 3, 1998); 36 CFR part 1193. The
guidelines were based on recommendations from a Telecommunications
Access Advisory Committee that the Board had created.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Access Board is an independent Federal agency
established by section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 792)
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; the General Services Administration;
and the United States Postal Service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On August 7, 1998, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which
includes the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, was signed into
law. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments generally
requires that when Federal departments or agencies develop, procure,
maintain, or use electronic and information technology, they must
ensure that the technology is accessible to people with disabilities,
unless an undue burden would be imposed on the department or agency.
Section 508 required the Access Board to publish standards setting
forth a definition of electronic and information technology and
technical and functional performance criteria for such technology. In
developing the standards, the Board was instructed to consult with
various Federal agencies \2\, the electronic and information technology
industry, and appropriate public or nonprofit agencies or
organizations, including organizations representing individuals with
disabilities. The Board was also required to periodically review and,
as appropriate, amend the standards to reflect technological advances
or changes in electronic and information technology. The Board
published the standards on December 21, 2000. 65 FR 80500 (December 21,
2000); 36 CFR part 1194. The standards were based on recommendations
from an Electronic and Information Technology Access Advisory Committee
that the Board had created to assist it in developing the standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The Access Board is required to consult with the Secretary
of Education, the Administrator of General Services, the Secretary
of Commerce, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission,
the Secretary of Defense, and the head of any other Federal
department or agency that the Access Board determines to be
appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
It has been over eight years since the Board issued the
Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines and over five years
since the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards
were issued. Technology has changed during that time. Additionally,
several organizations have asked the Board to update its Electronic and
Information Technology Accessibility Standards so that they are
harmonized with efforts taking place around the globe. The
telecommunications provisions in the Electronic and Information
Technology Accessibility Standards are based on and are consistent with
the Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines. Therefore,
updating and revising the Electronic and Information Technology
Accessibility Standards and the Telecommunications Act Accessibility
Guidelines could be done together.
Advisory Committee
At its November 9, 2005 meeting, the Access Board voted to form a
Federal Advisory Committee (Committee) to revise and update its
Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines and Electronic and
Information Technology Accessibility Standards in one rulemaking and
that the committee should include representation from other countries
and international standards setting organizations in addition to other
groups. The Access Board will begin the process of updating its
Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines and Electronic and
Information Technology Accessibility Standards by establishing an
Advisory Committee. The establishment of the Committee is in the public
interest and
[[Page 19840]]
will assist the Board in meeting its obligation for broad consultation
with Federal agencies, the telecommunications and electronic and
information technology industry, organizations representing individuals
with disabilities, and others in the update and revision of the
guidelines and standards. The Committee will make recommendations to
the Access Board on issues such as:
Types of products to be covered;
Barriers to the use of such products by persons with
disabilities;
Solutions to such barriers, if known, and research on such
barriers;
Harmonization with international standards efforts in this
area; and
Contents of the revised and updated guidelines and
standards.
The Committee will be expected to present a report with its
recommendations to the Access Board within 10 months of the Committee's
first meeting. The Access Board requests applications for
representatives of the following interests for membership on the
Committee:
Federal agencies;
The telecommunications and electronic and information
technology industry, including manufacturers;
Organizations representing the access needs of individuals
with disabilities;
Representatives from other countries and international
standards setting organizations; and
Other organizations affected by these accessibility
guidelines and standards.
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 submit a single application to represent their interest.
Although the Committee will be limited in size, there will be
opportunities for the public to present information to the Committee,
participate through subcommittees, 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
the name of the organization; person who will represent the
organization (and an alternate); title; address, telephone number, and
e-mail address; a statement of the interests represented; and a
description of the representative's qualifications, including
engineering, technical, and design expertise and knowledge of making
telecommunications products or electronic and information technology
accessible to individuals with disabilities. Committee members will not
be compensated for their service. The Access Board may, at its own
discretion, 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 September 6-7,
2006 in Arlington, VA. The Committee will operate in accordance with
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app 2. All Committee
meetings will be held in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Each
meeting will be open to the public. A notice of each meeting will be
published in the Federal Register at least 15 days in advance of the
meeting. Records will be kept of each meeting and made available for
public inspection.
Availability of Copies and Electronic Access
Single copies of this notice may be obtained at no cost by calling
the Access Board's automated publications order line (202) 272-0080, by
pressing 2 on the telephone keypad and then 1. Please record your name,
address, telephone number and request the advisory committee notice.
Persons using a TTY should call (202) 272-0082. This notice is
available in alternate formats upon request. Persons who want this
notice in an alternate format should specify the type of format
(cassette tape, Braille, large print, or ASCII disk). This notice is
also available on the Board's Web site (http://www.access-board.gov).
Lawrence W. Roffee,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. E6-5761 Filed 4-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8150-01-P