Wireless RERC - eReaders

FCC Seeks Comment on Waiving E-Reader Accessibility Rules

mz22 — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 14:11:01 +0000

Request for Comment on Petition for Extension of Class Waiver of Commission’s Rules for Access to Advanced Communications Servic

September 2014 – The FCC released a Public Notice [CG Docket No. 10-213] seeking comment on the Coalition of E-Reader Manufacturers’ petition for an extension of the FCC’s waiver of accessibility rules for basic e-readers, stating that “e-readers are single-purpose reading devices that consumers use for accessing text-based works (i.e., reading), not for other purposes, such as ACS.”

The FCC had previously granted a waiver of ACS accessibility rules until January 28, 2015, for basic e-readers. The class of basic e-readers defined in the waiver included all mobile electronic devices capable of accessing ACS, “designed primarily for the purpose of reading text-based digital works, such as books and periodicals, and meets each of the following requirements:

The device has no LCD screen, but rather utilizes a screen that is designed to optimize reading.
The device has no camera.
The device is not offered or shipped to consumers with built-in ACS client applications and the device manufacturer does not develop ACS applications for its respective device, but the device may be offered or shipped to consumers with a browser and social media applications.
The device is marketed to consumers as a reading device and promotional material about the device does not tout the capability to access ACS.”

The deadline to submit comments is October 27, 2014, while reply comments are requested by November 5, 2014.

FCC Grants Accessibility Waiver for E-Readers

mz22 — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 19:04:30 +0000

eReaders

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA)

Advanced Communications Services (ACS)

Order [CG Docket No. 10-213]

January 2014 — Following a petition filed by the Coalition of E-Reader Manufacturers, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a class waiver for basic e-readers from 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. The waiver is for a narrow class of e-readers with the following features:

The device has no LCD screen
The device has no Camera
The device is not offered with built-in email or other similar ACS applications
The device is marketed as a reading device and does not advertise the capability to access ACS

In granting the Coalition’s request, the FCC acknowledged that “this narrow class of e-readers is designed primarily for reading text-based digital works, not for ACS.” The waiver is set to expire on January 28, 2015.

Accessibility Waiver Requested for E-Readers

mz22 — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 15:48:30 +0000

eReaders

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA)

Advanced Communications Services (ACS)

Public Notice [CG Docket No. 10-213]

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. Specifically the Coalition is requesting a class waiver for e-readers, stating that “although e-readers are equipment that consumers can use for ACS,” “they are marketed to consumers as reading devices, and promotional material does not tout the capability to access ACS.” Comments are due on September 3, 2013 and reply comments are due September 13, 2013.

IDEAL Group Reader App Showcased at CES 2013

mz22 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:56:49 +0000

IDEAL Group Reader is now available for free from Android market

For additional information on IDEAL Group Reader

Publication Type:

Presentations

"IDEAL Group Reader" is a fully-accessible eBook reader app that can read text aloud, just like an audio book. It was developed by Apps4Android with support from Wireless RERC's App Factory. The Beta version of this ePub3 reader has been tested by thousands of users in 116 countries.

Apps4Android's CEO Steve Jacobs showcased the IDEAL Group Reader (IGR) at the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) International CES 2013 in Las Vegas on January 8-12.

Among its second-year projects, the Wireless RERC's App Factory has also funded the addition of MathML support to IDEAL Group Reader, enabling publishers to convert and publish math texts as ePub3 texts. The App Factory has also supported the addition of foreign language capabilities: With the installation of additional languages, the app can also display and read aloud books in Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Welsh.