Regulatory

December 2013 —The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the agenda for an Open Meeting to be held on December 12, 2013.  The agenda includes considerations for a Report and Order to improve 911 reliability and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise rules regarding use of wireless phones aboard airlines.  Additionally, the meeting will include status updates from the Technology Transitions Policy Task Force regarding recommendations for the FCC’s “expectations and role in the IP transition.”  The meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m.

November 2013 — On November 19, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler released a blog post entitled The IP Transition: Starting Now.  The post highlighted future efforts of the FCC Technology Transitions Policy Task Force concerning evolving communications networks, often called the “IP transition.”  Specifically, the post noted considerations for an Order providing the FCC with recommendations regarding the implementation, data collection practices and consideration of policy issues for IP transition pilot projects.

November 2013 — W3C announced that the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (ATAG 2.0) have been published as a W3C Candidate Recommendation.

November 2013 — W3C has issued a request for reviewers for the last call working draft regarding Implementing User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0.

November 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice [DA 13-2177] highlighting the new procedures for filing complaints regarding the accessibility of “advanced communications services and equipment, Internet browsers built into mobile phones, and telecommunications services and equipment.”  The new procedures follow two recent CVAA mandates which require advanced communications systems and equipment and internet browsers on mobile phones to be accessible to people with disabilities.