[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 231 (Friday, November 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60678-60679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30444]


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ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD


Telecommunications Access Advisory Committee; Meeting

AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 
(Access Board) gives notice of the dates and location of the meetings 
of the Telecommunications Access Advisory Committee.

DATES: The Telecommunications Access Advisory Committee will meet on 
December 16, 17, and 18, 1996 beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Steptoe & Johnson building, 
1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW., Washington, DC on the concourse level.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the 
meetings, please 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 disk) upon request. It is also available on 
the Internet at http://www.access-board.gov/notices/taacmtg.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 24, 1996, the Access Board published 
a notice appointing members to its Telecommunications Access Advisory 
Committee (Committee). 61 FR 26155 (May 24, 1996). The Committee will 
make recommendations to the Access Board on accessibility guidelines 
for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment. These 
recommendations will be used by the Access Board to develop 
accessibility guidelines in conjunction with the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC) under section 255 (e) of the Telecommunications Act of 
1996. The Committee is composed of

[[Page 60679]]

representatives of manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and 
customer premises equipment; organizations representing the access 
needs of individuals with disabilities; telecommunications providers 
and carriers; and other persons affected by the guidelines.
    At its first meeting on June 12-14, 1996, the Committee took the 
following actions:
     The statutory definitions of telecommunications, 
telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment are to be 
construed broadly.
     Providing access is not a ``change in form'' of 
information within the meaning of the statute's definition of 
telecommunications and, therefore, not excluded.
     A listserv was created through the Trace Center: taac-
[email protected]. To subscribe, send e-mail to [email protected] 
with the message subscribe taac-l .
     Accepted the application of the American Speech-Language 
and Hearing Association and Motorola to join the Committee.
     At its second meeting on August 14-16, 1996, the Committee 
agreed on the following points:
     In customer premises equipment (CPE), it is not always 
possible to separate the effects of software from hardware and one 
manufacturer may choose to perform the same function with one or the 
other. Therefore, the guidelines must cover both.
     It is not always possible to determine whether a 
particular function resides with the CPE, the telecommunications 
carrier, or the source material. Therefore, the guidelines will be 
developed with the assumption that the function resides in the CPE and 
urge the FCC to apply the same guidelines to entities and services 
under its jurisdiction.
     The Committee also agreed that the existing definitions of 
CPE and telecommunications equipment are sufficient.
     While the definition of ``readily achievable'' in the 
Telecommunications Act is the same as in the Americans with 
Disabilities Act (ADA), the term is applied differently. In the ADA, 
the term applies to barrier removal in existing facilities whereas the 
Telecommunications Act applies the term to the manufacture of new 
equipment. An ad hoc task group was formed to develop criteria to 
assess ``readily achievable'' in this new context.
     Subcommittees on Compliance Assessment and Guidelines 
Content were created. Discussions will be conducted primarily by e-
mail. To participate in a subcommittee, send e-mail to cannon@access-
board.gov.
    At its third meeting on September 25-27, 1996, the Committee took 
the following actions:
     Accepted the application of Microsoft to join the 
Committee.
     The subcommittee on Compliance Assessment reviewed and 
revised a draft list of criteria for an effective conformity assessment 
model, then developed consensus around fifteen of these criteria, with 
another five criteria needing further clarification or discussion. The 
subcommittee divided into two work groups: Consumer Information/
Verification and Coordination Point/Practitioners' Qualifications.
     The subcommittee on Guidelines Content divided into two 
work groups: Process Guidelines, and Performance and Design Guidelines. 
Each work group developed a set of principles and criteria for further 
discussion. Draft products are posted on a Trace- sponsored Web site. 
Discussion will be by e-mail (via the main TAAC-L listserv) and by 
teleconference call. The URL for the Web site is http://trace.wisc.edu/
taac/workdoc.htm.
     At its fourth meeting on November 6-8, 1996, the Committee 
took the following actions:
     Accepted the application of Netscape to join the 
Committee.
     Agreed to exchange information with European experts 
working on similar issues to help promote consistency.
     The Compliance Assessment subcommittee worked through its 
draft document and flagged and prioritized issues. Additional issues 
were also raised and will be addressed in the coming weeks. Issues 
include: (1) should the guidelines require manufacturers to follow 
specific steps but give suggested strategies; (2) can the use of 
``Access Engineers'' be required or only suggested; (3) how to make the 
process clear and understandable; (4) content of a Declaration of 
Conformity; (5) how to deal with the transition from now until ``Access 
Engineers'' are available. The Process work group of the Guidelines 
Content subcommittee met with the Compliance Assessment subcommittee to 
discuss overlapping issues including documentation, product testing and 
specialized CPE.
     The Guidelines Content subcommittee draft contains 
performance guidelines, including goals and strategies, followed by a 
rationale. The document also includes definitions and suggested 
techniques for providing access in specific cases. The document also 
suggests a current list of strategies and techniques for access.
    The Committee will meet on the dates and at the location announced 
in this notice. The meetings are open to the public. There will be a 
public comment period each day for persons interested in presenting 
their views to the Committee. The facility is accessible to individuals 
with disabilities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening 
systems and real time transcription will be available. The Committee 
will meet for the final time on January 14-15, 1997 at a location to be 
announced.
Lawrence W. Roffee,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 96-30444 Filed 11-27-96; 8:45 am]
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