The FCC announced today that Commissioners are scheduled to consider at their Nov. 19 meeting wireless hearing aid compatibility (HAC), wireless emergency alert, and video device user interface accessibility items. In the HAC item in WT docket 07-250, Commissioners “will consider a Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would update the scope of the wireless hearing aid compatibility rules and seek comment on additional measures that would ensure greater deployment of hearing aid compatible wireless handsets,” according to the agenda.
The FCC is hoping that industry entities and advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing reach a consensus on a path to ensure that all handsets are hearing aid compatible. However, there is not a consensus between industry and advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing.
The Telecommunications Industry Association, CTIA, and the Competitive Carriers Association have proposed an alternative HAC-compliance framework instead of requiring all handsets offered by manufacturers and carriers to be HAC compliant. The groups proposed requiring 66% of handsets to be HAC compliant, but organizations representing the deaf and hard of hearing say they want all handsets to meet that standard.
In the wireless emergency alert (WEA) item in PS docket 15-91, the FCC plans to “consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would improve the effectiveness of WEA message content and the geographic targeting of WEA messages, and facilitate WEA testing and proficiency training,” according to the agenda.
The item follows up on a report approved in December 2014 by the FCC’s Communications, Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) (TRDaily, Dec. 3, 2014).
A CSRIC working group that prepared the report recommended that the FCC modify its WEA rules to increase the number of characters that can be displayed in WEAs from 90 to 280 and to allow carriers to transmit alerts that originators have geo-targeted. Among other things, the report also recommended additional training for alert originators and development and testing for enhanced WEA deployment.
Also on the tentative agenda for the Nov. 19 meeting are a draft second report and order, order on reconsideration, and second further notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM) in Media Bureau docket 12-108, aimed at implementing provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) of 2010 that deal with accessibility to video programming and closed captioning. The agenda said the item is intended “to provide consumers with better information about the availability of accessible devices and features, and create easier access to video programming and closed captioning on devices.”
The item follows a 2013 order and further notice that established rules for accessibility of user interfaces and video programming guides and menus for blind and visually impaired users, including requirements for tablets and other “non-navigation devices” to make all built-in functions accessible (TRDaily, Oct. 29, 2013).
Also on the “sunshine” notice is a five-item consent agenda that includes an enforcement application for review and four media items. Those items will not be presented individually.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. – Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com; Lynn Stanton, lynn.stanton@wolterskluwer.com
Courtesy TRDaily