Laws & Regulations

Access to Telecommunications

Information on telecommunications accessibility provisions under the Telecommunications Act.

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Assistive Technology Act Fact Sheet

Provides background information on the Tech Act beginning with the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act in 1988.
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Assistive Technology Act of 2004: Public Law 108-364

Text of Public Law 108-364 that amends the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.
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Assistive Technology Policy Checklist

Checklist developed for the National Assistive Technology Research Institute to guide the development of assistive technology policies.

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Assistive Technology Rights & Regulations

Developed by the Iowa Program for Assistive Technology to describe the various federal laws that support access to assistive technology.
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Basic Rules for Web Site Accessibility

Information provided for Web site managers as resource material to assist in meeting the U.S. Department of Commerce policy on Web site accessibility for persons with disabilities.

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Closed Captioning of Video Programming

Regulations from the Federal Communications Commission regarding closed captioning of video programming.
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Common Myths about Web Accessibility

A frank discussion of Section 508 (Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998) compliance from the National Weather Service.

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Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Technology & Telecommunications Task Force

Task force deals with issues related to access to telecommunications and assistive technology in education, employment and independent living.
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Discover An Easy Way to Make Your Legacy Forms Accessible

Learn how to take any existing electronic or paper form and easily convert it to a fillable, Section 508 compliant form. Pre-recorded webinar from the TARGET Center's Discovery Series.

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Discover Universal Web Site Design: A Fresh Look at Section 508 Compliance

Watch a recording of the TARGET Discovery Series from February 25, 2009 and learn how to reframe your approach to Section 508 and Web accessibility by thinking in terms of universal design, rather than simply meeting a list of requirements. Experience Web sites from the perspective of all users; including those using assistive technologies. This webscast is part of the USDA TARGET Center Discovery Series.

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E-Learning: Conforming to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

Simple and effective guidance that addresses the specific issues surrounding Section 508 and e-learning initiatives within the federal government and for federal employees.

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Federal Acquisition Regulations

Final Federal Acquisition Rule for implementing Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 relating to electronic and information technology accessibility for persons with disabilities.

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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Amends Rules on Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets

FCC has taken steps to make clear that the hearing aid compatibility rules cover customer equipment that contains a built-in speaker and is designed to be typically held to the ear.  The FCC’s order also modifies an exception in the existing rule so that all large entities are required to offer at least one hearing aid-compatible model after a two-year initial period.  FCC also adopted a Policy Statement that emphasizes to developers of new technologies the necessity of considering and planning for hearing aid compatibility at the earliest stages of the product design process. This link opens a PDF document.

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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Closed Captioning Regulations

An American Sign Language video podcast on the FCC's rules regarding closed captioning, exceptions to the rules and how to file a complaint.  A transcript of this video is also available.

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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Disability Issues Links

A list of links from the FCC Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau related to disability issues, including closed captioning, 911-TTY compatibility, telecommunication relay services and various sections of the Rehabilitation Act.

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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Disability Rights Office

Provides technical assistance to consumers, government and businesses on telecommunications access for people with sensory and other disabilities.

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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Issues

Answers to frequently asked questions about Telecommunications Relay Services, Closed-Captioning, Assistive Listening Devices, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and other telecommunications issues.
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Information on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

Information from the FCC Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau on Section 508 and the FCC's role and actions.

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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Reminds Video Programming Distributors of Obligation to Make Emergency Information Accessible

As we enter hurricane season, the FCC is reminding video programming distributors, including broadcasters, cable operators, satellite television services, and any other distributor of video programming for residential reception, of their obligation to make emergency information accessible to persons with hearing and vision disabilities. This is required by FCC rules 79.1 and 79.2.

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Federal Communications Commssion (FCC) Celebrates 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Video of stories from FCC officials, and personal reflections of indviduals who are deaf or hard of hearing, on the progress made and lives shaped by accessible technologies since the passage of the ADA.

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Filing a Section 255 of the Communications Act Consumer Inquiry or Complaint

Information from the Federal Communications Commission on filing a complaint related to Section 255.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act

Information what is covered by Section 255, how manufacturers are affected, how the requirements of the law are enforced and what readily achievable means.

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Guide to Disability Rights Laws

Overview of 11 federal laws and links to federal agencies to contact for more information.

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National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) & the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

Summary of the role and goals of NIST in bringing nationwide improvements in voting systems by January 2006, including accessibility for voters with disabilities.

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National Weather Service Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Web Tools Guide

Describes a core set of tools that can assist Web authors in meeting the accessibility requirement of Section 508 Amendments of 1998.

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Section 255 of the Communications Act Fact Sheet

Information on Section 255 of the Communications Act, which requires that telecommunications manufacturers and service providers make their products and services accessible for people with disabilities.
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Section 255 of the Communications Act Service Providers

List of service providers from the Federal Communications Commission.
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Section 508 Electronic & Information Technology

Text of Section 508 from the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which relates to access to electronic and information technology for people with disabilities.
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Section 508 Facts

Fact sheet on the requirements of Section 508 and the Access Board's standards. Includes who is covered, what is covered and the technical standards. This link opens a PDF document.
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Section 508 Information Technology Access from the Association of Tech Act Projects (ATAP)

Fact sheet contains questions and answers related to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.
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Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

Contains information and links on the law, as well as technical assistance resources.
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Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Acquisition Frequently Asked Questions

Provides a consolidation of acquisition-related questions that have been posed by agencies, contractors and members of the disability community regarding Section 508.

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Section508.gov

Clearinghouse of information on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
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Software Applications & Operating Systems

Information on meeting the U.S. Department of Commerce policy on Web site accessibility for persons with disabilities as it concerns downloadable software "plug-ins."

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Statutory Language from the Telecommunications Act

Language of Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act pertaining to Access by Persons with Disabilities.
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Technology & People with Disabilities

Information on technology-related assistance and federal laws regarding accessibility.

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Testing Web Site Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

This Best Practice process is designed to help chief information officers and U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) organizations ensure that DOC Web sites comply with the department's accessibility policy.

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U.S. Department of Justice Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Home Page

Information from the U.S. Department of Justice on Section 508.
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U.S. Treasury Office of the Procurement Executive Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Questions & Answers

Developed by the Treasury Office of Procurement as internal guidance in response to questions and issues of Treasury Department employees concerning Section 508 and commercial item acquisition.

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