>>Vol. 107 No. 24
>>
>>
>>On our web site:
>>
>>Learn about Section 255 and accessible telecommunications products and
>>services
<http://www.afb.org/section255.asp>http://www.afb.org/section255.asp
>>Follow the progress of the Instructional Materials Accessibility Act
>><http://www.afb.org/textbooks.asp>http://www.afb.org/textbooks.asp
>>Follow the progress of the reauthorization of IDEA
>>http://www.afb.org/idea.asp
>>
>>In this issue...
>>
>>FCC Commissioner Abernathy Meets with Blindness Advocates
>>FCC Issues Plan for Transition to Digital TV; Issues NPRM on Digital
>>Rights Management
>>Senator McCain Introduces Broadband Bill with Strong Disability Access
>>Language
>>HHS Creates Office on Disability
>>DOT Institutes Disability Hotline
>>
>>FCC Commissioner Abernathy Meets with Blindness Advocates
>>
>>On August 9, AFB's Governmental Relations Group was pleased to host FCC
>>Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy together with blindness advocates from
>>ACB and NIB. During a two-hour luncheon meeting AFB's Director of
>>Technology Research and Development, Janina Sajka, put on a brief
>>demonstration of some of the key factors in product and content design
>>that determine whether devices and content are accessible or
>>inaccessible. Commissioner Abernathy and her staff voiced strong interest
>>in issues surrounding access to telecommunications products and services
>>by individuals who are blind or visually impaired. It gave us an
>>outstanding opportunity to educate Commissioner Abernathy to the basic
>>principles of inclusive and universal design, so that our filings in the
>>future can be more understandable to her and her colleagues.
>>
>>FCC Issues Plan for Transition to Digital TV; Issues NPRM on Digital
>>Rights Management
>>
>>The Commission has laid out a path designed to transition American
>>television to digital by the end of the decade. Consumers would have to
>>add an upgrade to their televisions or purchase a new TV, or rather a
>>digital television set (DTV), The FCC's plan requires manufacturers to
>>begin selling them in 2004, and requires all sets sold after 2007 to be
>>DTV capable.
>>
>>Meanwhile, the FCC has published an NPRM requesting comments on what it
>>should do about consumer's ability to make and distribute digital copies
>>of DTV broadcasts. As you may know, the media industry in the U.S. has
>>claimed that restrictions are essential if they're to keep their business
>>solvent and profitable. Comments are due by October 30, 2002. AFB plans
>>to file comments stressing the need for an assurance of accessibility of
>>DTV equipment as well as and any content protection system that may be
>>adopted.
>>To read a copy of the full notice of proposed rulemaking, go to
>><http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont02.html>http://www.access.
gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont02.html,
>>click on August 20, 2002, scroll down to the Federal Communications
>>Commission and click on the TEXT link for "Television broadcasting:
>>Digital broadcast copy protection."
>>
>>Senator McCain Introduces Broadband Bill with Strong Disability Access
>>Language
>>
>>On August 1, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) introduced S. 2863, a bill to
>>provide for deregulation of consumer broadband services. Sen. McCain's
>>bill is the first major broadband legislation to include provisions to
>>ensure that people with disabilities will be able to benefit from
>>broadband deployment.
>>
>>The disability access amendments would require manufacturers of broadband
>>equipment and providers of broadband consumer services to ensure that
>>their equipment and services are accessible to people with disabilities
>>unless doing so would result in an undue burden. The language also
>>requires that equipment and services that can not be made accessible be
>>made to work with the specialized technology used by people with
>>disabilities, unless that too would result in an undue burden.
>>
>><http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d107:2856:./list/bss/d107SN.lst:@
@@L&summ2=m&|TOM:/bss/d107query.html|>Full
>>text of the bill, cosponsors, and status of S. 2863
>>
>>HHS Creates Office on Disability
>>
>>On July 31, 2002, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the creation
>>of the HHS Office on Disability. Preparations are currently underway to
>>officially open the new office in the fall of 2002.  The Office on
>>Disability will oversee the coordination, development and implementation
>>of programs and special initiatives within HHS that impact people with
>>disabilities. Margaret J. Giannini, M.D., currently the principal deputy
>>assistant secretary for aging at the Administration on Aging (AoA), has
>>been appointed the director of the new office. Prior to joining AoA,
>>Giannini was with  the Department of Veterans Affairs and served as the
>>first Director of what is now known as the National Institute of
>>Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
>>
>>DOT Institutes Disability Hotline
>>
>>The Department of Transportation has instituted an aviation consumer
>>disability toll-free hotline for information and assistance if they
>>experience disability-related air service problems. The hotline became
>>operational on August 5, 2002.  The toll-free number for the hotline is
>>1-866-266-1368 (voice) and 1-866-754-4368 (TTY).
>>
>>
>>
>>Paul Schroeder, 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:<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[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
>>available shortly after publication
>>at  <http://www.afb.org/gov.asp>http://www.afb.org/gov.asp.