>
>Words from Washington
>January 31, 2003
>Vol. 108 No. 2
>
>In this issue. . .
>
> IMAA Reintroduced in the 108th Congress
> FY2003 Appropriations Progress Report
> Rep. Boucher Reintroduces DMCA Bill
> FCC Makes It Easier for Consumers to Submit Comments
> Bush Administration Launches Regulations.gov
>
>IMAA Reintroduced in the 108th Congress
>
>On January 29, Representative Thomas E. Petri (R-WI-6) introduced H.R. 490,
>the Instructional Materials Accessibility Act (IMAA), a bill to improve
>access to printed instructional materials used by blind or other persons
>with print disabilities in elementary and secondary schools. The bill was
>referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
>
>FY2003 Appropriations Progress Report
>
>... and there is progress. On January 24, the Senate completed its work on
>an omnibus appropriations bill. Rather than passing 11 separate bills, all
>of the unfunded programs were combined into one "omnibus" bill. The Senate
>funded the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind
>Program at $28 million, an increase of $3 million over FY2002, and IDEA
>personnel preparation at $95 million. The Senate included the following
>statement in the Personal Preparation section of the Omnibus bill: "The
>Committee also urges the Department to use a portion of the increased
>appropriation for the preparation of personnel who serve children with
>low-incidence disabilities, particularly those with sensory disabilities
>such as low vision, blindness, and deafness."
>
>The House funded the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who
>Are Blind Program at $30 million and the personnel preparation programs at
>$90 million. The House has appointed conferees to work out the differences
>between the two bills; the Senate should follow shortly. In the meantime,
>passage of H.J.Res 13 will carry the government through February 7.
>
>Rep. Boucher Reintroduces DMCA Bill
>
>On January 7, 2003, Representative Rick Boucher (D-VA-9) introduced H.R.
>107, the Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act of 2002. The bill protects the
>right of access to information for individuals who are blind or visually
>impaired in three important ways:
> • it would assure that readers who are blind will be able to
>access copyright protected digital content such as a book using a text to
>speech reader. The reaffirmation of fair use contained in this bill
>assures that such a step would not be interpreted as circumvention of
>technological copyright protection.
>
> • the bill protects the right to manufacture, distribute
>hardware or software that would allow a “non-infringing” use of content
>such as listening in audio form to a book which had been purchased in
>electronic form;
>
> • it would enable researchers to address technological means
>to access digital content while not running afoul of the threat that such
>research could result in illegal circumvention of copyright law.
>
>AFB also applauds the legislation’s call for proper labeling of
>copy-protected digital media. It is important for people who are blind to
>know of any reduced functionality before purchasing such media. If this
>legislation is enacted, it will be important to convince the Federal Trade
>Commission to ensure that this labeling is accessible to individuals who
>are blind or visually impaired.
>
>FCC Makes It Easier for Consumers to Submit Comments
>
>The FCC has launched a new, simplified version of ITS Electronic Comment
>Filing System (ECFS), called ECFS Express. It is designed specifically with
>the consumer in mind. ECFS Express focuses on topics most likely to
>generate consumer interest. Brief comments can be filed by choosing a topic
>from a list rather than using docket numbers, and requires minimal input by
>consumers seeking to participate in the Commission’s public rulemaking
>process. To view the current list of topics, go to
>http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecfs/Upload/. Any comments filed using this system
>will be available to the public.
>
>Bush Administration Launches Regulations.gov
>
>Regulations.gov is the U.S. Government's new web site that makes it easier
>for you to participate in Federal rulemaking - an essential part of the
>American democratic process. On this site, you can find, review, and submit
>comments on Federal documents that are open for comment and published in
>the Federal Register, the Government’s legal newspaper. As a member of the
>public, you can submit comments about these regulations, and have the
>Government take your views into account.
>
>
>Paul Schroeder, Janina Sajka, Alan Dinsmore, Joy Relton and Barbara LeMoine
>are contributors to WFW.
>
>WFW is published by the American Foundation for the Blind, Governmental
>Relations Group, 820 First Street, N.E., Suite 400 Washington, DC 20002,
>202-408-0200, Fax: 202-289-7880, E-mail: [log in to unmask] Address questions
>regarding subscriptions or content to Barbara Jackson LeMoine.
>This report focuses on the most significant issues currently being
>addressed by AFB's Governmental Relations Group, and is delivered to you
>periodically via the Topica "Words from Washington" list. WFW is archived
>at http://www.afb.org/gov.asp.
>
>====================================
>Hope 2003 is happy, healthy and prosperous!
>Barbara Jackson LeMoine
>Legislative Assistant
>Governmental Relations Group
>American Foundation for the Blind
>Washington, DC
>202-408-8169 <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>Visit GRG's web site at http://www.afb.org/gov.asp
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