[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73309-73310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28996]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[DA 14-1737]


Federal Advisory Committee Act; Disability Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Announcement of committee; solicitation of applications and 
membership.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 
Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces its intent to 
establish a Federal Advisory Committee, known as the ``Disability 
Advisory Committee'' (hereinafter ``the Committee'' or ``DAC''), and to 
solicit nominations for membership to the Committee.

DATES: Please submit applications as soon as possible, but no later 
than January 12, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  E. Elaine Gardner, Designated Federal 
Officer, Federal Communications Commission, Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau, (202) 418-0581, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applications and nominations for membership, 
including a statement of qualifications as noted below, should be 
submitted by email to the Federal Communications Commission at 
[email protected].

Background

    The Chairman of the Commission has determined that the 
establishment of the Committee is necessary and in the public interest 
in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Commission 
by law, and the Committee Management Secretariat, General Service 
Administration concurs with the establishment of the Committee. The 
purpose of the Committee is to provide advice, technical support, and 
recommended proposals to the Commission on the full range of disability 
access issues within the Commission's jurisdiction. This Committee will 
also provide a means for stakeholders with interests in accessibility 
issues to exchange ideas, facilitate the participation of consumers 
with disabilities in proceedings before the Commission, and assist the 
Commission in educating the greater disability community and covered 
entities on disability-related matters. Issues or questions to be 
considered by the Committee may include, but are not limited to the 
following:
     Telecommunications relay services;
     Closed captioning;
     Video description;
     Access to televised emergency information;
     Access to video programming apparatus;
     Access to telecommunications services and equipment;
     Access to advanced communications services and equipment;
     Hearing aid compatibility;
     Access to 9-1-1 emergency services;
     The National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program; 
and
     The impact of IP and other network transitions on people 
with disabilities.

Advisory Committee

    The Committee will be organized under, and will operate in 
accordance with, the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2). The Committee will be solely advisory in 
nature. Consistent with FACA and its requirements, each meeting of the 
Committee will be open to the public unless otherwise noticed. A notice 
of each meeting will be published in the Federal Register at least 
fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting. Records will be maintained 
of each meeting and made available for public inspection. All 
activities of the Committee will be conducted in an open, transparent 
and accessible manner. The Committee shall terminate two (2) years from 
the renewal date of its charter, unless its charter is being renewed 
prior to the termination date.
    During the Committee's first term, it is anticipated that the 
Committee will meet in Washington, DC for at least three (3) one-day 
meetings. The first meeting date and agenda topics will be described in 
a Public Notice issued and published in the Federal Register at least 
fifteen (15) days prior to the first meeting date. In addition, as 
needed, working groups or subcommittees (ad hoc or steering) will be 
established to facilitate the Committee's work between meetings of the 
full Committee. All meetings, including working groups and 
subcommittees, will be fully accessible to individuals with 
disabilities.

Application for Advisory Committee Appointment

    The Chairman is seeking nominations to fill approximately 25 
membership vacancies, with a term up to two (2) years. The Commission 
seeks applications from representatives of interested organizations, 
institutions, or other entities from both the public and private 
sectors that wish to be considered for membership on the Committee. The 
Commission is particularly interested in receiving nominations and 
expressions of interest from individuals and organizations representing 
the following categories:
     Individuals, organizations and other entities representing 
people with disabilities, including people who are blind and visually 
impaired, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with 
intellectual disabilities, people with multiple disabilities, including 
those who are deaf-blind, people with speech disabilities, and people 
with mobility disabilities;
     Individuals, organizations and other entities with a 
particular interest in the accessibility needs of children and senior 
citizens with disabilities; Communications service providers, including 
TRS providers, wireline and wireless communications service providers; 
equipment manufacturers, video programming providers, owners, 
distributors and manufacturers; voice over Internet protocol and other 
IP-

[[Page 73310]]

enabled service providers and manufacturers; researchers; educators; 
and accessible design developers and inventors;
     Federal government agencies;
     State and local government agencies; and
     Qualified representatives of other stakeholders and 
interested parties with relevant experience.
    Selections will be made on the basis of factors such as expertise 
and diversity of viewpoints that are necessary to address effectively 
the questions before the Committee. Individuals who do not represent an 
organization, institution, or entity, but who possess expertise 
valuable to the Committee's work are also welcome to apply. If 
appointed, such individuals would serve as Special Government Employees 
(SGEs) subject to conflict of interest rules, financial disclosure 
requirements, and limitations on financial holdings similar to those 
applicable to regular agency employees. In addition, under current 
White House guidance, such individuals (unlike those who are serving in 
a representative capacity) cannot be registered federal lobbyists. 
Committee members will not be compensated for their service. Members 
must be willing to commit to a two (2) year term of service, should be 
willing and able to attend at least three (3) one-day plenary committee 
meetings during each year of the Committee's term, and are also 
encouraged to participate in deliberations of at least one (1) 
subcommittee or working group for which they have interest and 
qualifications. The time commitment for participation in any 
subcommittee or working group may be substantial. However, subcommittee 
and working group meetings may be conducted informally, using suitable 
technology to facilitate the meetings, subject to oversight by the 
Designated Federal Official of the DAC.

Application Procedure, Deadline and Member Appointments

    Nominations should be received by the Commission as soon as 
possible, but no later than January 12, 2015. No specific nomination 
form is required; however, each nomination must include the following 
information:
     Name, title, and organization of the nominee and a 
description of the organization, sector or other interest the nominee 
will represent;
     Nominee's mailing address, email address, and telephone 
number;
     A statement summarizing the nominee's qualifications 
(including relevant experience and expertise) and reasons why the 
nominee should be appointed to the Committee. To the extent the nominee 
will represent a specific organization, the statement should also 
include a description of the organization as well as the benefit of 
having the organization represented on the Committee;
     A statement confirming that the nominee is not a 
registered federal lobbyist, if seeking appointment for the 
individual's expertise and not as a representative of an organization 
or entity; and
     The specific subcommittee(s), if any, on which the nominee 
has an interest in serving, along with the nominee's qualifications to 
serve on such subcommittee. If indicating more than one subcommittee, 
the nominee should list these in order of preference.
    For applicants seeking to represent an organization or company, the 
applicant's nomination to the Committee must be confirmed by an 
authorized person (e.g., organization or company official) confirming 
that the organization or company wants the nominated person to 
represent it on the Committee.
    Nominations, including all information outlined herein, should be 
submitted by email to [email protected]. Nominations should be submitted by 
January 12, 2015.
    Please note this Notice is not intended to be the exclusive method 
by which the Commission will solicit nominations and expressions of 
interest to identify qualified candidates; however, all candidates for 
membership on the Committee will be subject to the same evaluation 
criteria.
    After the applications have been reviewed, the Commission will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the appointment of 
Committee members and the first meeting of the Committee. Members serve 
at the discretion of the Chairman of the Commission and must be willing 
to commit to serve for a period of two (2) years from the date of 
establishment of the Committee.
    Accessible Formats: To request materials in accessible formats for 
people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio 
format), send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), or call ASL 
Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 via videophone.

Federal Communications Commission.
Karen Peltz Strauss,
Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2014-28996 Filed 12-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P