Industry

A new bill, Strengthening America’s Schools Act of 2013 [S.1094], was introduced in June by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to revise the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 of which No Child Left Behind(NCLB) was the last rewrite.  By allowing States the flexibility to...

In May, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Report and Order [FCC 13-64] regarding the roll out of text-to-911, specifically requiring wireless carriers as well as providers of text messaging services to provide a “bounce-back” message to consumers when text-to-911 is not available.  The bounce-back rules become effective June 28, 2013, and are invoked under the authority of  the Twenty-first...

In April the final report on NIDRR’s long-range plan for 2013-2017 was released and included continued support of research development focused on employment, community participation, and the health and function of individuals with disabilities. In addition, funding opportunities were announced and a new Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) was proposed by NIDRR. The two funding opportunities are for research on...

In March the Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC ) released a report entitled EAAC Working Group 3 Recommendations on Current 9-1-1 and Next-Generation 9-1-1: Media Communication Line Services Used to Ensure Effective Communication with Callers with Disabilities. The document discusses EAAC recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC...

In February the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) extended the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) for a fourth two-year term. Nominations for membership are being sought for those individuals that can contribute to the Council’s responsibilities of providing the Commission with expertise and...

In January the Federal Communications Commission (FCC ) focused on the development and implementation of 911 Emergency Services with the fourth annual report submitted to Congress entitled: On State Collection and Distribution of 911 and Enhanced 911 Fees and Charges. The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission also...

In December the President Obama signed a Presidential Proclamation announcing December 3, 2012 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. He noted that there was progress still to be made in “affirming universal human rights” but claimed the U.S as a global leader on disability rights, as the U.S will “redouble our efforts to build new paths to participation, empowerment, and progress around the world.”  The very next day, however, the U.N. Convention...

In November the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice (PN) and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), seeking public input on accessibility topics. The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau asks for comments on the effectiveness of FCC rules regarding hearing aid compatibility (...

In October rules went into effect requiring closed captioning on certain Internet video programming added on or after September 30, 2012 to assist individuals with hearing loss, as part of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted petitions for class waivers of...

In September the U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass the FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2012 [H.R. 2903] which will codify the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) as law.  Once signed into law, H.R. 2903 would strengthen the body of laws related to parity of access to emergency information by people with disabilities.

The Federal Communications...