Contents
- Disability-related laws and regulations implemented by the FCC
- Non-regulatory activities of the Chairman's Accessibility and Innovation Initiative
- Disability-related offices and opportunities at the FCC
- How to subscribe to the AccessInfo announcement list
- How to file a public comment in an FCC rulemaking proceeding
- How to file a complaint with the FCC
- Advisory Committees to the FCC
- Related programs of other federal agencies
- Related projects of external partners
- References
Disability-related laws and regulations implemented by the FCC
The FCC addresses a variety of disability-related telecommunications matters, including telecommunications relay service, access to telecommunications equipment and services for people with disabilities, access to emergency information and closed captioning. The FCC also provides expert advice and assistance to consumers, industry and others on issues relevant to people with disabilities. The FCC initiates rulemakings for the development of disability policy, conforming with existing disability laws and policies and supporting the goal of increasing accessibility of communications services and technologies.
Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)
Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming
National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
Emergency Access Advisory Committee
Advanced Communications Services
Telecommunications Services and Equipment
President Barack Obama signed the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) into law on Oct. 8, 2010. Find the text here.
Section 504 Programs and Activities Accessibility Handbook
Non-regulatory activities of the Chairman's Accessibility and Innovation Initiative
In light of the CVAA and its congressional mandates, the Commission developed the FCC Accessibility Clearinghouse to serve as a hub of information concerning disability rights and the availability of accessible products, services, and accessibility solutions.
The clearinghouse is updated annually and is instrumental in the agency's biennial report to Congress regarding the legislation and how well the CVAA is meeting the needs of the disabled community. We encourage industry to help maintain and grow this resource.
A Giant Leap & A Big Deal: Delivering on the Promise of Equal Access to Broadband for People with Disabilities
Lifted by the Cloud: Visions of Cloud-Enhanced Accessibility
Disability-related offices and opportunities at the FCC
Disability Rights Office | FCC.gov
Office of Workplace Diversity | FCC.gov
Jobs & Internships | FCC.gov
Technology Experience Center | FCC.gov
How to subscribe to the AccessInfo announcement list
Send an email to AccessInfo@fcc.gov with “sign me up” in either the header or the body of the e-mail.
How to file a public comment in an FCC rulemaking proceeding
To submit a filing via the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), you must fill out an electronic form.
Note: your comments will be part of an official FCC proceeding. All information submitted, including name and address will be publicly available via the web.
Steps to file a public comment
Under the Proceeding field, enter proceeding number. When looking at an FCC Rulemaking or Public Notice, in the upper right section of the paper, there will be a Docket Number, like MB 11-154. The proceeding number is “11-154.”
Under Contact Info, remember you do not have to be an attorney or hire an attorney or law firm to file comments. “Name of Filer,” enter your name. “Law firm Name,” enter the name of the law firm, if you used one. Under “Attorney/Author Name,” add your lawyer’s name or the name of the person who wrote the comments (it may be you). Enter your E-mail address, because you are the filer of record.
Under the Details field, under Type of Filing, use the scroll down menu. Most consumers will pick “comments” for responding to a proceeding, or “replys” which are your comments in response to another party’s comments.
Under the Address field, enter your address, including zip code.
Under the Documents field, hit on the browse button and look up the document that contains your comments. Then hit continue.
You will then get a confirmation code that your comments were successfully filed, and you will receive a confirmation number.
How to file a complaint with the FCC
Advisory Committees to the FCC
Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC)
Interstate TRS Fund Advisory Council
Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC) Web Page | Wiki Page
Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee (VPAAC) Web Page | Wiki Page
Related programs of other federal agencies
Selective links to other agency pages that support our mission:
The FCC is committed to ensuring that telecommunications are accessible to individuals with disabilities. To meet this commitment, the FCC takes guidance from the Access Board, an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. The Access Board establishes federal standards for electronic and information technology under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The U.S. Access Board develops guidelines for Section 255, upon which the Commission bases regulations.
Telecommunications Accessibility Homepage
ePolicyWorks: Partners in Disability & Employment
eFedLink: A Community of Practice to Advance Federal Employment for Persons with Disabilities
EARN: Helping Employers Hire and Retain People with Disabilities
JAN: Job Accommodation Network
AbleData: Your source for assistive technology information
Federal Employment of People with Disabilities
ADA Home Page - ada.gov - Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act
Section 508: Opening Doors to IT (As amended in 1998)
Disability.gov: Connecting the Disability Community to Information & Opportunities
FCC Fact Sheets and Consumer Alerts
Related projects of external partners
GeoAccess | Using geodata for accessible travel
Grab and Go Gallery for Accessible Web Authoring
References
