[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19502-19503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7256]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CG Docket No. 03-123; DA 07-1396]


The Federal Communications Commission's Policies and Practices 
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission initiates review of its 
policies and practices under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973 (Section 504 Handbook). By doing so, the Commission seeks comment 
on the accessibility of its programs and activities. The Commission's 
rules mandate that it conduct a review of its current policies and 
practices in view of advances in relevant technology and achievability 
every three years.

DATES: Comments are due on or before May 22, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by CG Docket No. 03-123, 
by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Parties who choose to file by paper should also 
submit their comments on diskette. These diskettes should be submitted, 
along with three paper copies to Diane Mason, Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 3-
C418, Washington, DC 20554. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch 
diskette formatted in an IBM compatible formatted using Word 97 or 
compatible software. The diskette should be accompanied by a cover 
letter and should be submitted in ``read only'' mode. The diskette 
should be clearly labeled with the commenter's name, proceeding 
(including the lead docket number in this case (CG Docket No. 03-123)), 
type of pleading (comment or reply comment), date of submission, and 
the name of the electronic file on the diskette. The label should also 
include the following phrase ``Disk Copy--Not an Original.'' Each 
diskette should contain only one party's pleadings, preferably in a 
single electronic file. In addition, commenters must send diskette 
copies to the Commission's contractor at Portals II, 445 12th Street, 
SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554.
     People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: [email protected] or phone (202) 418-
0539 or TTY: (202) 418-0432.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Mason, (202) 418-7126 (voice), 
(202) 418-7828 (TTY), or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 12, 2003, the Commission released 
Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the Commission's Rules Concerning 
Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in the Commission's 
Programs and Activities, Order, FCC 03-48, which published in the 
Federal Register at 68 FR 22315, April 28, 2003, effectuating Section 
119 of the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental 
Disabilities Amendments of 1978, which amend Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of 
disability in programs or activities conducted by Executive agencies or 
the United States Postal Service. This is a summary of the Commission's 
document DA 07-1396, released March 23, 2007. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  
1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission rules, 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, 
interested parties may file comments on or before the dates indicated 
on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using: (1) 
The Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the 
Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. 
See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 
24121, May 1, 1998.
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ 
or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Filers 
should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting 
comments.
     For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers 
appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one 
electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number 
referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers 
should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, 
and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit 
an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, 
filers should send an e-mail to [email protected], and include the following 
words in the body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form and 
directions will be sent in response. All comments received are viewable 
by the general public at any time through the Web site.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one 
docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, 
filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, 
by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. 
Postal Service mail (although the Commission continues to experience 
delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be 
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission.

[[Page 19503]]

     The Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or 
messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 
Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing 
hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be 
held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be 
disposed of before entering the building.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington DC 20554.
    The full text of document DA 07-1396 and copies of any subsequently 
filed documents relating to this matter will be available for public 
inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC 
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 
CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. Document DA 07-1396 and copies of 
subsequently filed documents in this matter may also be purchased from 
the Commission's contractor at Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 
CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact the Commission's 
contractor at their Web site http://www.bcpiweb.com or by calling 1-
800-378-3160.
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). 
Document DA 07-1396 can also be downloaded in Word and Portable 
Document Format (PDF) at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb.dro.

Synopsis

    The Commission seeks comment on the overall accessibility of its 
activities and programs. This includes, but is not limited to, the 
availability of sign language interpreters, physically accessible 
buildings and meeting spaces, Braille documents, assistive listening 
devices, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), captioning, 
and other forms of reasonable accommodation for access to its programs 
and activities. The Commission furthers seeks comment on the procedures 
set forth in the Section 504 Handbook.

    Federal Communications Commission.
Jay Keithley,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.

Appendix A-47 CFR 1.1810. Review of Compliance

    (a) The Commission shall, beginning in 2004 and at least every 
three years thereafter, review its current policies and practices in 
view of advances in relevant technology and achievability. Based on 
this review, the Commission shall modify its practices and 
procedures to ensure that the Commission's programs and activities 
are fully accessible.
    (b) The Commission shall provide an opportunity to interested 
persons, including individuals with disabilities or organizations 
representing individuals with disabilities, to participate in the 
review process by submitting comments. Written comments shall be 
signed by the commenter or by someone authorized to do so on his or 
her behalf. The signature of the commenter, or signature of someone 
authorized by the commenter to do so on his or her behalf, shall be 
provided on print comments. Comments in audio, Braille, electronic, 
and/or video formats shall contain an affirmative identity statement 
of the individual, which for this purpose shall be considered to be 
functionally equivalent to a commenter's signature.
    (c) The Commission shall maintain on file and make available for 
public inspection for four years following completion of the 
compliance review--
    (1) A description of areas examined and problems identified;
    (2) All comments and complaints filed regarding the Commission's 
compliance; and
    (3) A description of any modifications made.

Appendix B-47 CFR 1.1805. Federal Communications Commission Section 504 
Programs and Activities Accessibility Handbook

    The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau shall publish a 
``Federal Communications Commission Section 504 Programs and 
Activities Accessibility Handbook'' (``Section 504 Handbook'') for 
Commission staff, and shall update the Section 504 Handbook as 
necessary and at least every three years. The Section 504 Handbook 
shall be available to the public in hard copy upon request and 
electronically on the Web site. The Section 504 Handbook shall 
contain procedures for releasing documents, holding meeting, 
receiving comments, and for other aspects of Commission programs and 
activities to achieve accessibility. These procedures will ensure 
that the Commission presents a consistent and complete accommodation 
policy pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 794, as amended. The Section 504 
Handbook is for internal staff use and public information only, and 
is not intended to create any rights, responsibilities, or 
independent cause of action against the Federal Government.

[FR Doc. E7-7256 Filed 4-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P