[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 24, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62226-62227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17758]


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ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD

36 CFR Parts 1193 and 1194


Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines; Electronic and 
Information Technology Accessibility Standards

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 a Telecommunications and Electronic and 
Information Technology Advisory

[[Page 62227]]

Committee (Committee) to assist it in revising and updating 
accessibility guidelines for telecommunications products and 
accessibility standards for electronic and information technology. This 
notice announces the dates, time, and location of the second committee 
meeting, which will be open to the public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for November 8 and 9, 2006 (beginning 
at 9 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. each day). Notices of future meetings 
will be published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Education, Potomac Center Plaza, 10th Floor Auditorium, 550 12th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20202.

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: The Telecommunications and Electronic and 
Information Technology Advisory Committee held its first meeting 
September 27-29, 2006 in Arlington, Virginia at the National Science 
Foundation. The Board organized this Committee to review its standards 
for electronic and information technology covered by section 508 of the 
Rehabilitation Act and to provide recommendations on how they should be 
updated. The Committee will also address updating the Board's 
guidelines for telecommunications products covered by section 255 of 
the Telecommunications Act.
    At the first meeting, the Board provided a briefing on regulations 
governing committees of this type under the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act. The Committee reviewed and approved protocols that will govern its 
work and meetings. The Committee's objectives, milestones, subcommittee 
structure, and meeting schedule were also discussed. Members heard 
presentations and panel discussions on issues that need to be explored 
as recommended by government, consumer, and industry representatives. 
Information was provided on various accessibility initiatives in the 
U.S. and abroad relating to electronic and information technology. This 
included updates on efforts to develop standards by the European Union, 
the Japanese Standards Association, Industry Canada, and Australia's 
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
    Prior to its first meeting, over 120 organizations applied to serve 
on the Committee. In order to keep the Committee to a size that can be 
effective, it was necessary to limit membership. It is also important 
to have balance among members of the Committee representing different 
clusters of interest, such as disability organizations and the 
technology industry. Some organizations that were not accepted asked 
that their applications be reconsidered. Additionally, some 
organizations learned about the Committee too late to submit an 
application. Accordingly, time was set aside at the first meeting to 
allow organizations to submit an application directly to the committee 
to be considered for membership. At the first meeting, 10 organizations 
applied to the Committee to be considered for membership. One 
organization, AOL LLC, was added.
    In keeping with the Committee's protocols, as adopted at its first 
meeting, there will be time set aside on the agenda during the November 
meeting to allow additional organizations to have their applications 
considered. This is currently scheduled for Friday, November 9 at 
approximately 2:30 p.m. Organizations seeking to be added to the 
Committee are encouraged to contact Timothy Creagan prior to the 
meeting (see contact information, above).
    A draft meeting agenda and other information about the Committee, 
including tentative future meeting dates and information on 
subcommittees are available on the Access Board's Web site (http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/update-index.htm) or at a special Web site 
created for the Committee's work (http://teitac.org). The site includes 
a calendar for the subcommittee meetings, e-mail distribution lists, 
and a ``Wiki'' (http://teitac.org/wiki/TEITAC_Wiki) which provides 
interactive online work space.
    Committee meetings are open to the public and interested persons 
can attend the meetings and communicate their views. Members of the 
public will have an opportunity to address the Committee on issues of 
interest to them and the Committee during public comment periods 
scheduled on each day of the meeting. Members of groups or individuals 
who are not members of the Committee are invited to participate on 
subcommittees that were formed at the first meeting. The Access Board 
believes that participation of this kind is very valuable to the 
advisory committee process.
    The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. 
Sign language interpreters and real-time captioning will be provided in 
the main committee meeting room. Due to logistical issues regarding the 
available space in smaller meeting rooms which may be used for breakout 
sessions, it is essential that individuals who require sign language 
interpreters or real-time captioning, contact Timothy Creagan by 
November 2, 2006 (see contact information, above).
    For the comfort of other participants, persons attending Committee 
meetings are requested to refrain from using perfume, cologne, and 
other fragrances. Due to security measures at the Department of 
Education, all attendees must notify Timothy Creagan of their intent to 
attend the meeting (see contact information, above). Pre-registration 
is required for expeditious entry into the facility and will enable the 
Board to provide additional information as needed.

Lawrence Roffee,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. E6-17758 Filed 10-23-06; 8:45 am]
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