[nabs-l] accessible-iOS amazon requesting waiver of accessibility requirements for e-readers

[Sophie Trist]

Just thought this might interest you. Some sent it out on the 
Accessible-IOS list this morning.

 ---- Original Message ------
From: Donna Goodin <doniadonna at me.com
Subject: accessible-iOS amazon requesting waiver of accessibility 
requirements for e-readers
Date sent: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 07:28:26 -0500

Hi all,

I thought the following would be of interest to many of you.  
Amazon and Sony are trying to request an accessibility waiver for 
e-reader devices.  Below I am posting links to the FCC documents 
and procedures for commenting, I strongly suggest that people 
take the time to do this, it's definitely a step in the wrong 
direction.

Information below.
Cheers,
Donna

http://www.blindbargains.com/bargains.php?m=9286


Request for Comment on Petition for Class Waiver of Accessibility 
Rules for ACS

On August 1, 2013, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) 
released a Public Notice requesting comment on a petition filed 
by the Coalition of E-Reader Manufacturers.  The Coalition 
requests that the Commission waive its rules requiring equipment 
used for advanced communications services (ACS) to be accessible 
by people with disabilities.  The Coalition states that, although 
e-readers are equipment that consumers can use for ACS, they are 
designed primarily for reading.

To distinguish e-readers from tablets and other devices that 
would not be subject to the waiver request, the Coalition 
requests a waiver for e-readers that have the following features:

(1) they have no LCD screen;
(2) they have no camera;
(3) they are not offered or shipped to consumers with built-in 
ACS client applications and their manufacturers do not develop 
ACS applications for their respective devices, though the devices 
may include a browser and social media applications; and
(4) they are marketed to consumers as reading devices and 
promotional material does not tout the capability to access ACS.

Comment Deadline:  September 3, 2013
Reply Comment Deadline:  September 13, 2013

Links to the Public Notice (including filing instructions):
(PDF) 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-13-1686A1.pd
f
(Word) 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-13-1686A1.do
c
(Text) 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-13-1686A1.tx
t

Link to the Coalition Petition (May 15, 2013):
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022314526

Link to the Letter Supplementing the Coalition Petition (July 17, 
2013):  http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7520931307

For further information, please contact Eliot Greenwald at (202) 
418-2235 
orEliot.Greenwald at fcc.gov<mailto:Eliot.Greenwald at fcc.gov>; or 
Rosaline Crawford at (202) 418-2075 
orRosaline.Crawford at fcc.gov<mailto:Rosaline.Crawford at fcc.gov>.