Federal / Regulatory

This research brief presents findings from the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wireless Inclusive Technologies’ (Wireless RERC) Survey of User Needs (SUN) for 2017-2018. We present key findings regarding mobile phone use and satisfaction by consumers with disabilities.

March saw the reintroduction of The Internet of Things (IOT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019 bill, with an aim to improve security for IoT devices bought by government agencies. This Act has implications for the devices used by people with disabilities, and its legislative approach is similar to that used to bolster compliance with Section 508 of the...

Wireless RERC Project Director Maureen Linden traveled to Seoul, South Korea from November 5 – 11, 2018.  While there, she gave a lecture at South Korea’s National Rehabilitation Center, presented research at the 12^th Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of (Korea RESKO) Technical Conference, represented the Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Society of North American (RESNA) at the International Alliance of Assistive Technology...

Though February is the shortest month in the year, it was not short on activity. The Notice of Renewal of the Disability Advisory Committee’s (DAC) Charter [DA 19-55] was published in the Federal Register, starting the third two-year term for the DAC. The Committee will address, among other things, hearing aid compatibility, advanced communications and equipment services, and 9-1-1 access. Related to the accessibility of advanced communications equipment, the...

In the regulatory space, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking input from people with disabilities and other stakeholders about how best to facilitate the coordination of communications providers, power companies, and the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to enable a robust and rapid response to emergencies. Specifically, the concern is keeping people...

A new research brief by CACP researchers Nathan W. Moon, Paul M.A. Baker, and Kenneth Goughnour, summarizes findings from focus groups which explored accessibility, social appropriateness, and cultural acceptability issues of wireless technology related use among individuals with disabilities. The research was conducted for the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wireless Inclusive Technologies (Wireless RERC). A total of 41 individuals with disabilities who use smartphones,...

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a statutory obligation to evaluate the impact of their regulations that implement the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA). Every two-years the FCC submits a report to Congress on the state of industry compliance with the CVAA. In anticipation of the FCC’s call for stakeholder input to inform their 2018 CVAA Biennial Report, the Wireless RERC conducted a 2017 Mobile Phone Accessibility...

The file below is a PDF of the Wireless RERC's 12/31/2018 Re:Wireless Newsletter for consumers.  If you have trouble accessing the file or need it in an alternate accessible format, please contact Ben Lippincott at 678-992-9309 or ben@imtc.gatech.edu.

You can also view the newsletter at this web address:  https://conta.cc/2EWMDNf

The file below is a PDF of the Wireless RERC's 10/08/2018 Re:Wireless Newsletter for consumers.  If you have trouble accessing the file or need it in an alternate accessible format, please contact Ben Lippincott at 678-992-9309 or ben@imtc.gatech.edu.

You can also view the newsletter at this web address:  https://conta.cc/2yAqBex