The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Reports on the First Triennial Review of the Commission's Policies and Practices Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 4218-4220 [E8-1166]
Download as PDF
4218
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 16 / Thursday, January 24, 2008 / Notices
Regulatory Public Docket at https://
www.regulations.gov.
II. Background
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
A. Purpose of the FIFRA SAP
The FIFRA SAP serves as the primary
scientific peer review mechanism of
EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides
and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) and is
structured to provide scientific advice,
information and recommendations to
the EPA Administrator on pesticides
and pesticide-related issues as to the
impact of regulatory actions on health
and the environment. The FIFRA SAP is
a Federal advisory committee
established in 1975 under FIFRA that
operates in accordance with
requirements of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act. The FIFRA SAP is
composed of a permanent panel
consisting of seven members who are
appointed by the EPA Administrator
from nominees provided by the National
Institutes of Health and the National
Science Foundation. FIFRA, as
amended by FQPA, established a
Science Review Board consisting of at
least 60 scientists who are available to
the Scientific Advisory Panel on an ad
hoc basis to assist in reviews conducted
by the Scientific Advisory Panel. As a
peer review mechanism, the FIFRA SAP
provides comments, evaluations and
recommendations to improve the
effectiveness and quality of analyses
made by Agency scientists. Members of
the FIFRA SAP are scientists who have
sufficient professional qualifications,
including training and experience, to
provide expert advice and
recommendations to the Agency.
B. Public Meeting
The EPA is implementing an
Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program
(EDSP) in response to a 1996
Congressional mandate under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(FFDCA). Section 408(p) of the FFDCA
required the EPA ‘‘to develop a
screening program, using appropriate
validated test systems and other
scientifically relevant information, to
determine whether certain substances
may have an effect in humans that is
similar to an effect produced by a
naturally occurring estrogen, or other
such endocrine effect as EPA may
designate (FFDCA 21 U.S.C. 346a(p). In
1998, the Endocrine Disruptor
Screening and Testing Advisory
Committee (EDSTAC), a panel of experts
chartered pursuant to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) in
response to the FFDCA, submitted a
final report to advise the EPA on how
to develop its Endocrine Disruptor
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20:35 Jan 23, 2008
Jkt 214001
screening and testing program. The
screening program was also reviewed
and reported on by the EPA’s Science
Advisory Board and Scientific Advisory
Panel (SAB/SAP) as required by the
FFDCA. Together, the EDSTAC and
SAB/SAP recommended that the EPA
address both human and ecological
effects and examine effects on the
estrogen as well as the androgen and
thyroid (EAT) hormonal systems, and
that a two-tiered approach be used for
screening (EPA. Endocrine Disruptor
Screening and Testing Advisory
Committee EDSTAC Final Report.
August 1998.https://www.epa.gov/
scipoly/oscpendo/pubs/edspoverview/
finalrpt.htm). The purpose of Tier-1 is to
identify substances that have the
potential to interact with the EAT
hormonal systems using a battery of
screening assays. The purpose of Tier 2
testing is to identify and establish a
dose-response relationship for any
adverse effects that might result from
the interactions identified through the
Tier-1 screening battery.
The EPA has validated (or anticipates
completing validation in 2008) several
candidate assays for the Tier-1 battery as
follows:
Screening assays being considered for
the Tier-1 battery:
In vitro
• Rat uterine cytosol and human
recombinant estrogen receptor (ER)
binding*
• Rat prostate cytosol androgen
receptor (AR) binding
• Human cell line (H295R)
steroidogenesis*
• Human placental and recombinant
aromatase
In vivo
• Uterotrophic (rat)
• Hershberger (rat)
• Pubertal female (rat)
• Pubertal male (rat)
• Adult male (rat)
• Amphibian metamorphosis (frog)
• Fish short-term reproduction
*Consideration of these assays will be
contingent on individual assay peer
review, which is expected in 2008.
Following an extensive validation
process, the EPA has had (or expects to
have in 2008) each of these assays peer
reviewed independently by a panel of
scientific experts. The individual assay
peer review process was done to ensure
that independent scientific opinions
about the candidate assays were
obtained and considered. Information
regarding individual assay peer review
can be found in section IV.D. of the
Federal Register of July 13, 2007, https://
www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2007/
July/Day-13/p13672.pdf.
The EPA is now convening an
independent scientific peer review of
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Frm 00047
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the Tier-1 screening battery and has
chosen the FIFRA SAP process. The
FIFRA SAP will be charged with
commenting on whether the EPA’s
proposed battery composition fulfills its
purpose (i.e., to identify the potential to
interact with the EAT hormone
systems). The SAP will specifically be
asked to comment on the strengths and
limitations of the proposed battery, and
to suggest improvements that could be
made to the proposed battery
considering candidate assays. The SAP’s
advice will inform the EPA’s final
decision on the composition of the
EDSP’s Tier-1 screening battery.
C. FIFRA SAP Documents and Meeting
Minutes
EPA’s background paper, related
supporting materials, charge/questions
to the FIFRA SAP, FIFRA SAP
composition (i.e., members and ad hoc
members for this meeting), and the
meeting agenda will be available by late
February 2008. In addition, the Agency
may provide additional background
documents as the materials become
available. You may obtain electronic
copies of these documents, and certain
other related documents that might be
available electronically, at https://
www.regulations.gov and the FIFRA
SAP homepage at https://www.epa.gov/
scipoly/sap.
The FIFRA SAP will prepare meeting
minutes summarizing its
recommendations to the Agency
approximately 90 days after the
meeting. The meeting minutes will be
posted on the FIFRA SAP website or
may be obtained from the OPP
Regulatory Public Docket at https://
www.regulations.gov.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, pesticides
and pests.
January 17, 2008.
Elizabeth Resek,
Acting Director, Office of Science
Coordination and Policy.
[FR Doc. E8–1191 Filed 1–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[CG Docket No. 03–123; DA 07–5009]
The Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau Reports on the First Triennial
Review of the Commission’s Policies
and Practices Under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Federal Communications
Commission.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM
24JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 16 / Thursday, January 24, 2008 / Notices
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY: In this document, the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau (Bureau) reports on its review of
the Commission’s policies and practices
under section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973. The Commission’s rules
mandate that it conduct a review of its
current policies and practices in view of
advances in relevant technology and
achievability every three years. The
report concludes that during the past
three years, the Commission has
successfully provided access to its
programs and activities for people with
disabilities in accordance with section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Washington DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Diane Mason, Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability
Rights Office at (202) 418–7126 (voice),
(202) 418–7828 (TTY), or e-mail
Diane.Mason@fcc.gov.
This is a
summary of the Commission’s
document DA 07–5009, released
December 17, 2007, in CG Docket No.
03–123. A copy of document DA 07–
5009 will be available for public
inspection and copying during regular
business hours at the FCC Reference
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th
Street, SW., Room CY–A257,
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418–0270.
Document DA 07–5009 also may be
purchased from the Commission’s
duplicating contractor at its Web site,
https://www.bcpiweb.com, or by calling
(800) 378–3160. Document DA 07–5009
also may be found by searching the
Commission’s Electronic Comment
Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/
cgb/ecfs (insert CG Docket No. 03–123
into the Proceeding block).
To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files,
audio format), send an e-mail to
fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202)
418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432
(TTY).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Synopsis
Pursuant to 47 CFR 1.1810, every
three years the Commission must
undertake a self-evaluation of its
compliance with section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.
794. The year 2007 marked the end of
the first triennium. The Bureau releases
this report accordingly, which reviews
disability access services provided
during the past three years, considers
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:35 Jan 23, 2008
Jkt 214001
comments from consumers served, and
replies to the single filing submitted in
response to the Public Notice seeking
comment on the Commission’s section
504 policies and practices, The
Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau Seeks Comment on the
Commission’s Policies and Practices
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, CG Docket No. 03–123, DA
07–1396, published at 72 FR 19502,
April 18, 2007. The report concludes
that during the past three years, the
Commission has successfully provided
access to its programs and activities for
persons with disabilities in accordance
with section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act.
Background
By way of background, section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act prohibits
discrimination against persons with
disabilities under any program or
activity receiving federal funds. In 1978,
the Act was amended to include any
program or activity conducted by an
Executive Branch agency or the United
States Postal Service. The 1978
amendments also required covered
agencies to establish regulations to
implement section 504’s mandates. In
2003, the Commission released an order
amending its section 504 rules,
Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the
Commission’s Rules Concerning NonDiscrimination on the Basis of Disability
in the Commission’s Programs and
Activities, FCC 03–48 (2003 Section 504
Order), published at 68 FR 22315, April
28, 2003. These amendments updated
terminology to be consistent with
current statutory language, supplied
specifications for filing in alternative
formats, outlined procedures for
requesting reasonable accommodations,
and established a triennial selfevaluation.
Concurrent with the release of the
2003 Section 504 Order, the
Commission also produced and
distributed the Federal Communications
Commission Section 504 Programs and
Activities Accessibility Handbook
(Section 504 Handbook). Since the
Section 504 Handbook functions as a
centralized source for both disability
information and accessibility best
practices, it was also made available to
the public via the Commission’s Web
site, at: https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/
section_504.html. Paper copies were
supplied upon request.
In order to ensure that consumers
with disabilities know how to request
the access services they need,
instructions for requesting reasonable
accommodations are included on the
Commission Web site, in most public
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
4219
documents, and in all consumer fact
sheets and advisories. Requests for
services are generally received via the
Commission’s FCC504 mailbox
(FCC504@fcc.gov), the Disability Access
telephone line (both voice and TTY), or
by direct contact with the Commission’s
Section 504 Officer.
The report examines the access
services provided by the Commission in
the following eight forms from July 2004
through June 2007: sign language
interpreting; captioning; CART
(Computer Assisted Realtime
Translation); re-voicing; Braille; large
print; electronic formats (e.g., text, PDF);
and audio (e.g., MP3 files, CDs). For
each form of accommodation, the
Commission attempts to acquire the best
services available under the
circumstances. When the Commission
has received consumer reports of
dissatisfaction with service providers
(e.g., regarding turnaround times for
Braille documents, sign language
interpreters who have difficulty
understanding specific deaf consumers),
it has been able to work with the
consumers to make sure that their
preferences are noted when subsequent
requests for accommodations are made.
Overall, consumer feedback has been
positive. The report concludes that the
Commission does not need to modify its
accessibility policies and practices at
this time, but will continue to address
specific accessibility issues as they
arise.
Sorenson Communications, Inc.
(Sorenson) filed comments on May 22,
2007, focusing on Video Relay Service
(VRS) access issues. Sorenson notes that
the Commission’s public videophone
located near the Commission Meeting
Room on the TW level of the Portals II
Building ‘‘appears to be dedicated to
Federal Relay.’’ Sorenson asserts that
‘‘[t]he Commission’s current practice of
restricting on-premises callers to
Federal Relay denies those callers the
full access mandated’’ by section 504.
Contrary to Sorenson’s assertion, the
Commission’s public videophone does
not require callers to use Federal Relay
Service. Calls can be made peer-to-peer
or through any VRS provider.
Sorenson also recommends that the
information about VRS in the
Commission’s Section 504 Handbook be
updated to reflect changes in the
services offered through VRS
providers—specifically, that VRS calls
may now be initiated by hearing callers
and that ASL-to-Spanish VRS services
are available. These changes will be
reflected in the next edition of the
Section 504 Handbook.
E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM
24JAN1
4220
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 16 / Thursday, January 24, 2008 / Notices
Federal Communications Commission.
Nicole McGinnis,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. E8–1166 Filed 1–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Thrift Supervision
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Joint Comment Request
Office of the Comptroller of
the Currency (OCC), Treasury; Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (Board); Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC); and
Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of information
collections to be submitted to OMB for
review and approval under the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
AGENCIES:
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the OCC, the Board, the
FDIC, and the OTS (collectively, the
agencies) may not conduct or sponsor,
and the respondent is not required to
respond to, an information collection
unless it displays a currently valid
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. On September
25, 2006, the agencies, under the
auspices of the Federal Financial
Institutions Council (FFIEC), requested
public comment on a proposal to
implement new regulatory reporting
requirements for banks 1 that qualify for
and adopt the Advanced Capital
Adequacy Framework to calculate their
risk-based capital requirement or are in
the parallel run stage of qualifying to
1 For simplicity, and unless otherwise indicated,
this notice uses the term ‘‘bank’’ to include banks,
savings associations, and bank holding companies
(BHCs). The terms ‘‘bank holding company’’ and
‘‘BHC’’ refer only to bank holding companies
regulated by the Board and do not include savings
and loan holding companies regulated by the OTS.
For a detailed description of the institutions
covered by this notice, refer to Part I, Section 1, of
the final rule entitled Risk-Based Capital Standards:
Advanced Capital Adequacy Framework.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:35 Jan 23, 2008
Jkt 214001
adopt this framework (71 FR 55981).
The agencies have made certain
modifications to the proposed reporting
requirements as described in this notice
both in response to comments received
and to reflect requirements of the final
rule implementing the Advanced
Capital Adequacy Framework (72 FR
69288, referred to hereafter as the final
rule). The FFIEC, of which the agencies
are members, has approved publication
of these reporting requirements and the
agencies are submitting these reporting
requirements to OMB for review and
approval. Upon approval, OMB control
numbers will be obtained.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before February 25, 2008. These
reporting requirements are effective
April 1, 2008, and institutions subject to
these requirements must begin reporting
data at the end of the first quarter in
which they have begun their parallel
run period.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are
invited to submit written comments to
any or all of the agencies. All comments,
which should refer to the OMB control
number(s), will be shared among the
agencies.
OCC: Communications Division,
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency, Public Information Room,
Mail Stop 1–5, Attention: 1557–NEW,
250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC
20219. In addition, comments may be
sent by fax to (202) 874–4448, or by
electronic mail to
regs.comments@occ.treas.gov. You may
personally inspect and photocopy
comments at the OCC’s Public
Information Room, 250 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC. For security reasons,
the OCC requires that visitors make an
appointment to inspect comments. You
may do so by calling (202) 874–5043.
Upon arrival, visitors will be required to
present valid government-issued photo
identification and submit to security
screening in order to inspect and
photocopy comments.
Board: You may submit comments,
which should refer to ‘‘FFIEC 101’’ by
any of the following methods:
• Agency Web Site: https://
www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
on the https://www.federalreserve.gov/
generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail:
regs.comments@federalreserve.gov.
Include docket number in the subject
line of the message.
• FAX: 202–452–3819 or 202–452–
3102.
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• Mail: Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary,
Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, 20th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20551.
All public comments are available
from the Board’s Web site at https://
www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/
foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted,
unless modified for technical reasons.
Accordingly, your comments will not be
edited to remove any identifying or
contact information. Public comments
may also be viewed electronically or in
paper in Room MP–500 of the Board’s
Martin Building (20th and C Streets,
NW.) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on
weekdays.
FDIC: You may submit comments,
which should refer to ‘‘FFIEC 101,’’ by
any of the following methods:
• https://www.FDIC.gov/regulations/
laws/federal/notices.html.
• E-mail: comments@FDIC.gov.
Include ‘‘FFIEC 101’’ in the subject line
of the message.
• Mail: Valerie Best (202–898–3907),
Supervisory Counsel, Attn: Comments,
Room F–1070, Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20429.
• Hand Delivery: Comments may be
hand delivered to the guard station at
the rear of the 550 17th Street Building
(located on F Street) on business days
between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Public Inspection: All comments
received will be posted without change
to https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/
federal/notices.html including any
personal information provided.
Comments may be inspected at the FDIC
Public Information Center, Room E–
1002, 3501 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA
22226, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on
business days.
OTS: You may submit comments,
identified by ‘‘FFIEC 101’’ by any of the
following methods:
• E-mail address:
infocollection.comments@ots.treas.gov.
Please include ‘‘FFIEC 101’’ in the
subject line of the message and include
your name and telephone number in the
message.
• Fax: (202) 906–6518.
• Mail: Information Collection
Comments, Chief Counsel’s Office,
Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552,
Attention: ‘‘FFIEC 101.’’
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Guard’s
Desk, East Lobby Entrance, 1700 G
Street, NW., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
business days, Attention: Information
Collection Comments, Chief Counsel’s
Office, Attention: ‘‘FFIEC 101.’’
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and OMB
E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM
24JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4218-4220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1166]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[CG Docket No. 03-123; DA 07-5009]
The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Reports on the First
Triennial Review of the Commission's Policies and Practices Under
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
[[Page 4219]]
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
(Bureau) reports on its review of the Commission's policies and
practices under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The
Commission's rules mandate that it conduct a review of its current
policies and practices in view of advances in relevant technology and
achievability every three years. The report concludes that during the
past three years, the Commission has successfully provided access to
its programs and activities for people with disabilities in accordance
with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Washington DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Mason, Consumer & Governmental
Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office at (202) 418-7126 (voice),
(202) 418-7828 (TTY), or e-mail Diane.Mason@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's
document DA 07-5009, released December 17, 2007, in CG Docket No. 03-
123. A copy of document DA 07-5009 will be available for public
inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room
CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0270. Document DA 07-5009 also
may be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor at its
Web site, https://www.bcpiweb.com, or by calling (800) 378-3160.
Document DA 07-5009 also may be found by searching the Commission's
Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs (insert
CG Docket No. 03-123 into the Proceeding block).
To request materials in accessible formats for people with
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format),
send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
Synopsis
Pursuant to 47 CFR 1.1810, every three years the Commission must
undertake a self-evaluation of its compliance with section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794. The year 2007 marked the end
of the first triennium. The Bureau releases this report accordingly,
which reviews disability access services provided during the past three
years, considers comments from consumers served, and replies to the
single filing submitted in response to the Public Notice seeking
comment on the Commission's section 504 policies and practices, The
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Seeks Comment on the
Commission's Policies and Practices Under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, CG Docket No. 03-123, DA 07-1396, published
at 72 FR 19502, April 18, 2007. The report concludes that during the
past three years, the Commission has successfully provided access to
its programs and activities for persons with disabilities in accordance
with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Background
By way of background, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities under any
program or activity receiving federal funds. In 1978, the Act was
amended to include any program or activity conducted by an Executive
Branch agency or the United States Postal Service. The 1978 amendments
also required covered agencies to establish regulations to implement
section 504's mandates. In 2003, the Commission released an order
amending its section 504 rules, Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the
Commission's Rules Concerning Non-Discrimination on the Basis of
Disability in the Commission's Programs and Activities, FCC 03-48 (2003
Section 504 Order), published at 68 FR 22315, April 28, 2003. These
amendments updated terminology to be consistent with current statutory
language, supplied specifications for filing in alternative formats,
outlined procedures for requesting reasonable accommodations, and
established a triennial self-evaluation.
Concurrent with the release of the 2003 Section 504 Order, the
Commission also produced and distributed the Federal Communications
Commission Section 504 Programs and Activities Accessibility Handbook
(Section 504 Handbook). Since the Section 504 Handbook functions as a
centralized source for both disability information and accessibility
best practices, it was also made available to the public via the
Commission's Web site, at: https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/section_
504.html. Paper copies were supplied upon request.
In order to ensure that consumers with disabilities know how to
request the access services they need, instructions for requesting
reasonable accommodations are included on the Commission Web site, in
most public documents, and in all consumer fact sheets and advisories.
Requests for services are generally received via the Commission's
FCC504 mailbox (FCC504@fcc.gov), the Disability Access telephone line
(both voice and TTY), or by direct contact with the Commission's
Section 504 Officer.
The report examines the access services provided by the Commission
in the following eight forms from July 2004 through June 2007: sign
language interpreting; captioning; CART (Computer Assisted Realtime
Translation); re-voicing; Braille; large print; electronic formats
(e.g., text, PDF); and audio (e.g., MP3 files, CDs). For each form of
accommodation, the Commission attempts to acquire the best services
available under the circumstances. When the Commission has received
consumer reports of dissatisfaction with service providers (e.g.,
regarding turnaround times for Braille documents, sign language
interpreters who have difficulty understanding specific deaf
consumers), it has been able to work with the consumers to make sure
that their preferences are noted when subsequent requests for
accommodations are made. Overall, consumer feedback has been positive.
The report concludes that the Commission does not need to modify its
accessibility policies and practices at this time, but will continue to
address specific accessibility issues as they arise.
Sorenson Communications, Inc. (Sorenson) filed comments on May 22,
2007, focusing on Video Relay Service (VRS) access issues. Sorenson
notes that the Commission's public videophone located near the
Commission Meeting Room on the TW level of the Portals II Building
``appears to be dedicated to Federal Relay.'' Sorenson asserts that
``[t]he Commission's current practice of restricting on-premises
callers to Federal Relay denies those callers the full access
mandated'' by section 504. Contrary to Sorenson's assertion, the
Commission's public videophone does not require callers to use Federal
Relay Service. Calls can be made peer-to-peer or through any VRS
provider.
Sorenson also recommends that the information about VRS in the
Commission's Section 504 Handbook be updated to reflect changes in the
services offered through VRS providers--specifically, that VRS calls
may now be initiated by hearing callers and that ASL-to-Spanish VRS
services are available. These changes will be reflected in the next
edition of the Section 504 Handbook.
[[Page 4220]]
Federal Communications Commission.
Nicole McGinnis,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. E8-1166 Filed 1-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P