<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As an interim measure in advance of issuing tactile-enhanced Federal Reserve notes, the BEP is providing currency readers, free of charge, to eligible blind and visually impaired individuals.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span> </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">The BEP recently announced its distribution plans for the U.S. Currency Reader Program. Details of the announcement can be found in a </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;"><a href="http://www.moneyfactory.gov/images/Press_Release_US_Currency_Reader_Program.pdf" target="null" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;">press release</a> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">issued on Thursday, July 3, 2014, and </span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><a href="http://www.moneyfactory.gov/images/BEP_Press_Release_7-14-14.pdf" target="null" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">another</span></a></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">released on Monday, July 14, 2014.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span> </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The U.S. Currency Reader Program will launch in two phases:</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span> </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Pilot:</b> Beginning September 2, 2014, in partnership with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, (NLS) the BEP will initiate a four-month pilot where NLS patrons can pre-order a currency reader. The pilot program allows the government to test its ordering and distribution processes and gauge demand for currency readers. To receive a currency reader, eligible individuals who are currently patrons of NLS need only call 1-888-NLS-READ; the account will be noted and a currency reader will be delivered to the address on file.</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">National Rollout:</b> Currency readers will be widely available to all U.S. citizens, or persons legally residing in the U.S. who are blind or visually impaired, starting January 2, 2015. Individuals who are not NLS patrons must submit an application, signed by a competent authority who can certify eligibility. Applications will be available on this website and processed for non-patrons of NLS beginning January 2, 2015.</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Additional information about the U.S. Currency Reader Program and about the currency reader device can be found in the links below. The BEP encourages organizations that support the blind and visually impaired community to distribute these materials, or to incorporate the information provided into individualized communications.</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"> </span></span></p><ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; width: auto;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><a href="http://www.moneyfactory.gov/images/MA_-_U_S_Currency_Reader_FAQ_5_6_14_final.pdf" target="null" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Frequently Asked Questions about the U.S. Currency Reader Program</span></a></span></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><a href="http://www.moneyfactory.gov/images/MA_-_U_S_Currency_Reader_Brochure_5_13_14_final.pdf" target="null" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">U.S. Currency Reader Program Brochure</span></a></span></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><a href="http://www.moneyfactory.gov/images/iBill_User_Manual_short_version.pdf" target="null" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Print Guide for Using the iBill® Talking Banknote Identifier</span></a></span></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><a href="http://www.moneyfactory.gov/ibillytred.html" target="_self" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">Video Guide for Using the iBill® Talking Banknote Identifier</font></span></a></li></ul><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span> </span></div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Contact Us:</b> For additional questions or comments about the U.S. Currency Reader Program you may call (844) 815-9388 toll-free or email <a href="mailto:meaningful.access@bep.gov" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">meaningful.access@bep.gov</span></a>.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"></span></span> </span></div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">More about NLS: </b> NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials available to U.S. residents and citizens living abroad whose low vision, blindness, or physical handicap makes it difficult to read a standard printed page. More information about the program and other services provided by NLS can be viewed at <a href="http://www.loc.gov/nls/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">http://www.loc.gov/nls/</span></a>.</span></div><br><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Kevin</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">---The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back. <a href="http://NFB.ORG">NFB.ORG</a></span></div></body></html>