Regulatory

August 2013 — The Department of Justice reached an agreement with the town of Fort Morgan, Colorado regarding the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

August 2013 - The Wireless RERC submitted reply comments to the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FPRM): In the Matter of Accessibility of User Interface, and Video Programming Guides and Menus [MB Docket No. 12-108]. The NPRM requested input on defining the scope of Sections 204 and 205 of the Twenty First Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) which require user interfaces and navigation devices for video programming to be accessible to people with vision loss.

August 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requesting comment on a petition, filed by the Coalition of E-Reader Manufacturers, for a class waiver of section 716, part 14 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA).  Part 14 of the FCC’s rules that require advanced communications services (ACS) and equipment be accessible to people with disabilities.

July 2013 — Louisiana Tech University and the Department of Justice have reached a settlement regarding allegations that, in violation of the ADA, the University used an “online learning product” that was inaccessible to a blind student in addition to not providing the student with accessible course materials in a subsequent course.  The settlement will require the University to reimburse the student for $23,543 in damages, while ensuring that all instructors and administrators are trained on the requirements of the ADA.  In addition, the University will be required to develop new policies

Wireless RERC input on accessible emergency information and text-to-911 was included in recent FCC rulemaking. The first, in the Report and Order (R&O) In the Matter of Accessible Emergency Information and Apparatus Requirements…Video Description…[MB Dockets No. 12-107 and 11-43], the Wireless RERC was cited and/or included in the body of the document 17 times, influencing final rules requiring the simultaneous provision of visual and audio emergency information conveyed during non-newscast programming.