[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]


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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.

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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.
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    \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.
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    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.
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    \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.
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    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