[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 49908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18003]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

28 CFR Part 35

[CRT Docket No. 128]
RIN 1190-AA65


Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of 
Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities

AGENCY: Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Supplemental advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension 
of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On May 9, 2016, the Department of Justice (Department) 
published a Supplemental Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SANPRM) 
in the Federal Register addressing the potential application of 
technical accessibility requirements to the Web sites of title II 
entities. The comment period is scheduled to close on August 8, 2016. 
The Department is extending the comment period by 60 days until October 
7, 2016, in order to provide additional time for the public to prepare 
comments.

DATES: The comment period for the SANPRM, published on May 9, 2016 (81 
FR 28657), is extended. All comments must be received by October 7, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 1190-AA65 (or 
Docket ID No. 128), by any one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Web site: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the Web site's instructions for submitting comments.
     Regular U.S. mail: Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights 
Division, U.S. Department of Justice, P.O. Box 2885, Fairfax, VA 22031-
0885.
     Overnight, courier, or hand delivery: Disability Rights 
Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1425 New 
York Avenue, NW., Suite 4039, Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Bond, Chief, Disability Rights 
Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, at (202) 
307-0663 (voice or TTY). This is not a toll-free number. Information 
may also be obtained from the Department's toll-free ADA Information 
Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY). This document 
is available in alternate formats for people with disabilities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Justice published a 
Supplemental Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SANPRM) in the 
Federal Register on May 9, 2016, addressing the potential application 
of technical accessibility requirements to the Web sites of title II 
entities. 81 FR 28657 (May 9, 2016). The SANPRM asks 123 multipart 
questions, seeking public comment on a wide range of complex issues 
related to the potential technical accessibility requirements as well 
as any proposed title II Web rule's costs and benefits. Following the 
SANPRM's publication, the Department received three comments requesting 
that the public comment period be extended by 90 days. The requests 
indicated that more time is needed to provide meaningful, comprehensive 
responses to the SANPRM because of the complexity of issues discussed, 
the number of questions posed, and the amount of data and information 
requested.
    The Department has decided to grant a 60-day extension of the 
comment period until October 7, 2016. Given the importance of both 
providing title II entities with clear guidance regarding their ADA 
obligations for Web access and providing persons with disabilities 
equal access to State and local government programs, services, and 
activities, the Department seeks to continue moving the rulemaking 
process forward. Additionally, a title II Web accessibility rule is 
likely to facilitate the creation of an infrastructure for Web 
accessibility that will be very important in the Department's 
preparation of the title III Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Web site 
accessibility for public accommodations. Further delays in this title 
II rulemaking, therefore, will have the effect of hindering the title 
III Web rulemaking's timeline as well. The Department believes that 
this 60-day extension provides sufficient time to allow interested 
parties to provide comments on this SANPRM. Comments on the SANPRM may 
be provided by October 7, 2016, via the methods described above.

    Dated: July 25, 2016.
Vanita Gupta,
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-18003 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-13-P