[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 242 (Thursday, December 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 69612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33445]


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ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD


Electronic and Information Technology 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) has established an advisory committee to assist it in 
developing a proposed rule on accessibility standards for electronic 
and information technology covered by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments 
of 1998. This document gives notice of the dates, times, and location 
of the next meeting of the Electronic and Information Technology Access 
Advisory Committee (Committee).

DATES: The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for January 5 and 
6, 1999, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. each day.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at 1331 F Street, NW., Washington, 
DC, in the third floor training room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Wakefield, 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) 272-5434 extension 39 (Voice); (202) 272-
5449 (TTY). E-mail address: [email protected]. This document 
is available in alternate formats (cassette tape, Braille, large print, 
or computer disk) upon request. This document is also available on the 
Board's Internet Site at http://www.access-board.gov/notices/
eitaacmtg.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 29, 1998, the Access Board 
published a notice appointing 23 members to its Electronic and 
Information Technology Access Advisory Committee (Committee). 63 FR 
51891 (September 29, 1998). The Committee will make recommendations to 
the Access Board on accessibility standards for electronic and 
information technology covered by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 
1998. The Committee is composed of Federal agencies and Federal 
contractors; the electronic and information technology industry; 
organizations representing the access needs of individuals with 
disabilities; and other persons affected by accessibility standards for 
electronic and information technology. At its first meeting on October 
15 and 16, 1998, the Committee took the following actions:

    Added Compaq Computers, Pitney Bowes, Sun Microsystems, and the 
Information Technology Industry Council to the Committee;
    Formed three subcommittees. One subcommittee will examine the 
definitions needed for the recommended standards. Another 
subcommittee will examine the various functions that are performed 
by electronic and information technology. These functions include 
creating, processing, transmitting, and interacting with information 
and the technology involved. A third subcommittee will begin the 
process of classifying the variety of products covered by the 
standards into product families;
    Created a listserv to facilitate communications between 
meetings. To subscribe to the listserv send an e-mail message to: 
[email protected].; and
    Established a schedule of meeting dates. The Committee will meet 
again on February 8-9, 1999; March 29-30, 1999; and, May 11-12, 
1999.

    At its second meeting on December 1 and 2, 1998, the Committee 
addressed the scope of the standards it will be recommending to the 
Access Board. This included defining the term ``electronic and 
information technology.'' A three person group was appointed to develop 
a recommended definition and present it to the Committee at its January 
meeting.
    Additionally, four subcommittees were formed. These include: 
installation and setup, information display, control and operation, and 
user information. The subcommittees will examine these specific areas 
and identify access barriers in each area, and recommend standards that 
could lower or eliminate these barriers. The subcommittees will 
continue their work on the listserv.
    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.
Lawrence W. Roffee,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 98-33445 Filed 12-16-98; 8:45 am]
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