FCC Seeks Comment on the Accessibility of Telecommunications Technologies and Advanced Communications Services

By Maria Browne

The FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau seeks public comment by July 25, 2012, to inform preparation of the FCC’s biennial report to Congress required by the Twenty-First Communications Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), concerning the accessibility of telecommunications and advanced communications services and equipment to individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the FCC seeks comment on, among other things:

• The level of compliance with Sections 255, 716, and 718 of the Communications Act (Act) by telecommunications and interconnected VoIP providers, as well as providers of advanced communications services, such as text messaging, video conferencing and non-interconnected VoIP;
• An evaluation of the extent to which any accessibility barriers still exist with respect to new communications technologies; and
• An assessment of the effect of the recordkeeping and enforcement provisions of Section 717 of the Act on the development and deployment of new communications technologies.

Links to the Public Notice:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-12-1125A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-12-1125A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-12-1125A1.txt