Telecommunications Industry Association Urges That Manufacturers and Services Providers Be Afforded as Much Flexibility as Possible, Consistent With Congress’s Intentions That the Law Promote Accessible Technology Without Hampering Innovation
Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the Advanced Communication Provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010.
In its comments, TIA noted that the Accessibility Act “promotes the continued availability of accessible technology without hampering the technological innovation that is the hallmark of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry.” TIA worked closely with Congressional staff throughout all stages of the bill’s drafting process, enabling TIA to provide an important perspective as the agency implements the Accessibility Act. Further, TIA is an established leader in standards development, which will play an important role in the FCC implementation of the Act.
According to the legislative history of the statute, Congress “intend[ed] that the Commission afford manufacturers and service providers as much flexibility as possible, so long as each does everything that is achievable” in accordance with the statute.
To that end, TIA urged the FCC “to promote accessibility through a flexible regulatory approach targeted at those consumer products widely available in the marketplace.”
TIA’s successful involvement in standards development, and its member companies’ extensive experience in developing and deploying accessible technologies – most recently evident in the area of wireless hearing aid compatibility – demonstrate how a flexible approach to the incorporation of new technologies, including accessibility features, can be achieved in a manner consistent with innovation in the ICT sector.
In the filing, TIA included specific recommendations on a number of issues, including:
- Subjecting manufacturers and service providers to section 716 insofar as they offer products or services falling within the advanced communications services definitions;
- Aspects of the “achievable” standard, which requires product-specific evaluation and affords manufacturers flexibility to account for the wide marketplace of accessibility solutions;
- Establishing reasonable, outcome-oriented performance objectives and adopting safe harbor rules based on industry-developed technical standards;
- Other components of the Act critical to Congress’s overall statutory scheme, such as: applying the Accessibility Act to Smart phones and other multi-mode devices; incorporating waivers for appropriate classes of service and adopting streamlined processes for waiver petitions; the need for case-by-case determination of accessibility capabilities;
- Allowing industry flexibility to avoid unnecessarily burdensome recordkeeping requirements;
- Interpreting mobile Internet browser accessibility obligations under Section 718 consistent with Section 716 flexibility requirements.
TIA has a long history of working closely with the Hearing Loss Association of America and Gallaudet University to develop accessibility-related standards, including the TIA-1083 standard that reduces noise and interference in digital cordless phones when used by people with T-Coil-equipped hearing aids or Cochlear implants. The standard has been updated to apply to newer technologies with digital interfaces, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, and USB, underscoring TIA’s commitment to ensuring that accessibility solutions remain relevant to emerging technologies.
TIA’s filing is available on its USTR filings page at tiaonline.org.
About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Since 1924, TIA has been enhancing the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members’ products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment.
Join TIA at its new annual industry event – TIA 2011: Inside the Network – at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, May 17-20, 2011.
TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.
TIA’s Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, OneChip Photonics, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Walker and Associates and WirefreeCom, Inc. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates and Telcordia Technologies.
