[Nfbf-l] FCC Requires Mobile Phone Manufacturers and Service Providers to Make Internet Browsers Accessible to the Blind by October 2013

[Alan Dicey]

Dear Friends,
Well, October 8th is almost here, so I am passing this on again.
With Best Regards,
God Bless,
Alan
Plantation, Florida

FCC Requires Mobile Phone Manufacturers and Service Providers to Make 
Internet Browsers Accessible to the Blind and Visually Impaired by October 
2013
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 2:37 PM
FCC Requires Mobile Phone Manufacturers and Service Providers to Make 
Internet Browsers Accessible to the Blind and Visually Impaired by October 
2013

While some of the info contained in this post is a bit technical, this could 
be of some interest to some our clients.

>From accessibilityNewsInternational .

FCC Requires Mobile Phone Manufacturers and Service Providers to Make 
Internet Browsers Accessible to the Blind and Visually Impaired by October 
2013
Originally Posted on May 7, 2013 by Steve Augustino & John Heitmann
Josh Guyan contributed to this post.
In the latest of its orders to implement the Twenty-First Century 
Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 ("CVAA"), the FCC 
released a Second Report and Order addressing the accessibility requirements 
of Internet browsers on mobile phones for the blind and visually impaired.
This order adopted requirements for which it sought further comment in 
January 2012 when it released a Report and Order implementing provisions of 
the CVAA to ensure that people with disabilities have access to advanced 
communications services ("ACS").
The substantive obligations for mobile phones will go into effect at the 
same time as the CVAA's substantive obligations for ACS services take 
effect, on October 8, 2013. The recordkeeping obligations, however, went 
into effect on January 30, 2013.
Section 718 of the Communications Act (which was added by the CVAA) and the 
FCC's new regulations require that (1) manufacturers of mobile phones that 
include an Internet browser, and (2) providers of mobile services that 
arrange for the inclusion of a browser in mobile phones to sell to 
customers, must ensure that the functions of the included browser (including 
the ability to launch the browser) are accessible to and usable by 
individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment, unless doing so is 
not achievable. The obligations do not apply to developers of Internet 
browsers included in mobile phones.
The FCC emphasized that its rules overlapped with the rules applicable to 
Internet browsers generally. Section 716 applies to all Internet browsers 
used for ACS (e.g., laptops, tablets and mobile phones), while Section 718 
applies only to Internet browsers built into mobile phones but used for any 
purpose (not just for ACS). Further, Section 716 requires accessibility for 
all individuals with disabilities, while Section 718 requires accessibility 
for only those individuals that are blind or visually impaired.
In keeping with the FCC's approach to disabled access requirements, industry 
has been given a great deal of flexibility regarding how it can comply with 
the requirements, but not much guidance. Specifically, the FCC determined 
not to mandate that covered entities include an accessibility application 
programming interface (API) in mobile phones. However, it also declined to 
establish the inclusion of an accessibility API in a mobile phone as a safe 
harbor for compliance with Section 718 and the FCC's new rules.
The accessibility requirements for ACS pursuant to Section 716 and for 
mobile phone Internet browsers pursuant to Section 718 are both effective on 
October 8, 2013. However, the FCC determined that the recordkeeping 
obligations of Section 717 of the Communications Act apply to entities 
covered by Section 718 and those obligations were effective as of January 
30, 2013. The FCC declined to delay the effective date for Section 718 
entities because of the statutory language and the notice provided by the 
January 2012 order. Therefore, entities that did not file the annual 
certification that records required to be maintained are being kept in 
accordance with the CVAA by April 1, 2013, but that are covered by Section 
718 as described above, should file the certification. (There is no small 
business exemption for Section 718 entities.)
Similarly, entities that may have registered and certified as equipment 
manufactures or providers of telecommunications or ACS may need to amend 
their registration to include "Mobile Phone Equipment Manufacturer that 
includes an Internet browser" or "Mobile Phone Service Provider that 
arranges for inclusion of an Internet browser" if they are covered by 
Section 718 as described above.
For more information, please visit 
http://www.kelleydrye.com/publications/client_advisories/0816 to read the 
Kelley Drye Client Advisory.
Reproduced from 
http://www.telecomlawmonitor.com/2013/05/articles/fcc/fcc-requires-mobile-phone-manufacturers-and-service-providers-to-make-internet-browsers-accessible-to-the-blind-and-visually-impaired-by-october-2013/


David Goldfield
Computer Technology Instructor
919 Walnut Street
4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA  19107

215-627-0600 ext 3277
FAX:  215-922-0692

dgoldfie at asb.org
www.asb.org

Serving Philadelphia's and the nation's blind and visually impaired 
population since 1874.