This is an update on ATM access.  Thanks to all of those who sent in
comments to the Access Board.  Many hundreds of comments were
received.  Our message of full atm accessibility is being heard.

Last week, the Access Board published the notice below in the Federal
Register.  A meeting has been called for October 24 to discuss atm
access.  The ATM and banking industry filed comments as well.  Industry
com mentors don't like the proposed guideline and if they have to take it
they want it to apply to new machines only.  No surprise.  The meeting
will likely explore concerns of both sides and sort out fact from
folly.  I'll be attending.  If you are going, let me know so we can
coordinate efforts.

kelly

   Published in the Federal Register Tuesday, October 3, 2000

   ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD

   36 CFR Parts 1190 and 1191
   RIN 3014-AA20

   Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for
   Buildings and Facilities; Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)
   Accessibility Guidelines

   AGENCY:
   Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

   ACTION:
   Proposed rule; meetings.

   SUMMARY:
   The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access
   Board) will hold two informational meetings to provide the public with
   additional opportunities to discuss proposed requirements relating to
   automated teller machines, reach ranges, and captioning equipment
   included in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the
   accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities covered by the
   Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Architectural
   Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968. The meetings will be held on the dates and
   at the locations noted below.

   DATES:
   The Access Board will hold an informational meeting on access to
   automated teller machines on October 24, 2000 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30
   p.m. and an informational meeting on captioning equipment on October
   25, 2000 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and reach ranges on October 25,
   2000 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

   ADDRESSES:
   The meetings will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 815 14th Street,
   NW in Washington, DC.

   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
   Marsha Mazz, Office of Technical and Information Services,
   Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, 1331 F
   Street, NW., suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111. Telephone number
   (202) 272-5434 extension 121 (Voice); (202) 272-5449 (TTY). These are
   not toll-free numbers. Electronic mail address: [log in to unmask]
   This document is available in alternate formats (cassette tape,
   Braille, large print, or computer disk) upon request.

   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
   On November 16, 1999 the Architectural and Transportation Barriers
   Compliance Board (Access Board) published a Notice of Proposed
   Rulemaking to amend the accessibility guidelines for the Americans
   with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Architectural Barriers Act
   (ABA) of 1968. 64 FR 62248 (November 16, 1999). Proposed section 707
   includes several provisions that may affect access to automated teller
   machines (ATMs), point of sale machines, and interactive transaction
   machines by people who are blind or have vision impairments. Proposed
   section 308 includes provisions for maximum high unobstructed reach.
   While section 707 is based on the American National Standard for
   Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, ICC/ANSI A117.1-1998,
   the Board departed from this consensus standard with regard to reach
   ranges. In the proposed rule, the Board sought information on
   different means of providing captioning for movie theaters (Question
   36). The Board is interested in receiving more information about
   various types of captioning as it relates to the built environment.

   The Board wishes to provide affected parties the opportunity to share
   their views and expertise directly with the Board on these issues.
   Specific areas of inquiry are:

   ATMs:

     What are the performance expectations of people who are blind or
     have a vision impairment?

     What functions are currently accessible in audible format and on
     what types of devices?

     What functions cannot be made accessible in audible format and why?

     What are the hardware and software costs associated with audible
     output?

     What does the industry hope to gain from a "performance standard"?

     What effect would a 48 inch maximum reach have on ATMs, point of
     sale machines, and interactive transaction machines?

   Reach ranges:

     What manufactured equipment cannot provide a 48 inch high side
     reach and why?

     Are there newly constructed building elements that would be
     substantially affected in terms of usability by lowering the high
     side reach from 54 inches to 48 inches?

     What is the experience in those States where the ICC/ANSI
     A117.1-1998 standard requiring the side reach to be no higher than
     48 inches is used?

   Captioning for movie theaters:

     What technical provisions are necessary to facilitate or augment
     the use of auxiliary aids such as captioning and videotext
     displays?

     What are the various options for providing captioning that would
     best facilitate effective communication?

     If provisions for conduit, electrical service, screen anchoring
     devices at seats, or other requirements that make providing
     accessible communication possible in the built environment are
     required in the final rule, how specific should those provisions
     be?

   Members of the public are encouraged to share their views on these
   subjects with the Board. Following the informational meetings, the
   Board will determine the provisions to be included in the final rule.
   The informational meetings will be informal and open to the public.

   Members of the public are encouraged to contact Marsha Mazz at (202)
   272-5434 extension 121 (Voice), (202) 272-5449 (TTY), or electronic
   mail [log in to unmask] to preregister to attend the informational
   meetings.

   All meetings are accessible to persons with disabilities. Sign
   language interpreters and an assistive listening system will be
   available at the meetings. Persons attending the informational
   meetings are requested to refrain from using perfume, cologne, and
   other fragrances for the comfort of other participants.

   ________________________________

   Lawrence W. Roffee
   Executive Director.


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