SECTION 508 and theTELECOMMUNICATION ACT

REFRESH

Tim Creagan, Access Board Senior Accessibility Specialist

Statewide AT Program Leaders Symposium

May 17-18, 2011

Bethesda, MD

ICT Refresh Steps

• §255 guidelines effective (1998)• §508 standards effective (2001)• TEITAC report: April 2008 • ANPRM and draft text released: March 2010• Public comment period ends: June 21, 2010 • Review comments **NOW**• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)• Final rule

ANPRM and Draft Text

ANPRM:

http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/refresh/notice.htm

Draft Text:

http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/refresh/draft-rule.htm

To Look at the Comments:

• Website: www.regulations.gov

• Select document type: “Proposed Rule”

• Enter keyword: “ATBCB-2010-0001”

• Select “Search”

• On new screen, check document type, “Public Submissions”

Overview of Text

• Organization:• Two chapters 1: “508” and “255”

• Chapter 2: Functional Performance Criteria

• Chapters 3-9: Technical provisions

• Chapter 10: Documentation and support

• ADA Amendments

Chapters in the draft textChapter 1- 508; Chapter 1 – 255

Chapter 2 Functional Performance Criteria

Chapter 3 Common Functionality

Chapter 4 Platforms, Applications and Interactive Content

Chapter 5 Electronic Documents

Chapter 6 Synchronized Media Content and Players

Chapter 7 Hardware Aspects of ICT

Chapter 8 Audio Output from Hardware

Chapter 9 Conversation Functionality and Controls

Chapter 10 ICT Support Documentation and ICT Support Services

What is Different?• “ICT” = Information and Communications

Technology (same as “E&IT”)

• Organization has changed – feature based

• Advisory Notes next to provisions

• Reflects current technology

• Definition of content – what is covered?

• Referenced standards

• WCAG 2.0 Harmonization

ICT Content: Chapter 1• “Official” Communication From:

Agency or representative of the agency

• To: Federal employees and contains information necessary to perform job

OR

• To: members of the public necessary to conduct official business with the agency (see Agency mission)

ICT Content: Examples

To Federal employees:• Working conditions or policies:

• IT policies, security, or personnel information  • general announcements of upcoming agency events

(announcement about annual budget; in-house training) 

To the public:• technical assistance about agency regulations • content posted on the agency website • information about benefits or programs administered or provided by

the agency

Chapter 2: FPCs

• 202.2 Without Vision • 202.3 With Limited Vision • 202.4 Without Perception of Color • 202.5 Without Hearing • 202.6 With Limited Hearing • 202.7 Without Speech • 202.8 With Limited Manipulation • 202.9 With Limited Reach and Strength • 202.10 Without Physical Contact • 202.11 Minimize Photosensitive Seizure Triggers 

Functional Performance Criteria - Examples

Changes• Limited Vision

(202.3)

-20/200 v. 20/70

• Limited hearing (202.6)-Clarity, background noise

New• Color vision deficits

(202.4)

• Without Physical Contact (202.10)

• Photosensitive seizure triggers (202.11)

Without Physical Contact (202.10) (Chapter 2)

Provide access for individuals who

are unable to make contact with a product.

Benefits and costs?

Chapter 3 Common Functionality(Common to all ICT)

301 General

302 Closed Functionality

303 Biometrics

304 Preservation of Information Provided for Accessibility

305 Color

306 Flashing

307 Operable Parts

Chapters 4 & 5[*WCAG 2.0 Harmonization]

Chapter 4 (“Web”)

• Platforms, Applications and Interactive Content

• Examples: web-based and traditional applications (email client, word processor, e-learning course) Content formats as platforms (spreadsheets

Chapter 5 (“Documents”)

• Electronic documents – mostly static,read-only, non-interactive content.

• Examples: Word files, PDFs, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, simple web pages (w/o Flash)

Harmonization with WCAG* 2.0 *Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, 2.0

•International standard for accessible web pages

•Robust Linked Resources• Understanding Documents

• Intent• Background Material• Examples• References

• How To Meet Documents• Sufficient Techniques• Common Failures

•http://w3.org/tr/wcag

Chapters 6,7, 8 & 9

• Chapter 6: Synchronized Media Content and Players

• Chapter 7: Hardware Aspects of ICT

• Chapter 8: Audio Output from Hardware

• Chapter 9: Conversation Functionality and Controls

Chapter 7: Hardware Aspects of ICT

701 General

702 Reach Ranges for Installed or Free-Standing ICT

703 Standard Connections

704 Text, Images of Text, and Symbols for Product Use

Chapter 8: Audio Output from Hardware

801 General

802 Interactive ICT Within Reach

803 ICT Typically Held to the Ear

804 ICT Not Typically Held to the Ear

Audio Output from Hardware(Chapter 8)

What about volume gain? Should it be the same for Cellular phones and landline phones?

Chapter 9: Conversation Functionality and Controls

901 General

902 Real-Time Text Functionality

903 Voice Mail, Messaging, Auto-Attendant, Conferencing, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

904 Information about Call Status and Functions

905 Video Communication Support

906 Audio Clarity for Interconnected VoIP

907 Alternate Alerting for VoIP Telephone Systems

Video Communication Support (905)

Do the provisions for

video quality

support accessibility? 

Chapter 10: ICT Support Documentation and ICT Support Services

1001 General

1002 ICT Support Documentation

1003 ICT Support Services

Amendments to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines

220 Automatic Teller Machines, Fare Machines, and Self-Service Machines

• Fare vending, ATMS, self-service machines

• Intention is to reference the same technical standards for 508, 255 and ADA: 36 CFR Part 1194

Self-Service Transaction Machines

November 2010: Access Board decides to separate the rulemaking on ADA self-service transaction machines from the rulemaking on information and communication technology

Self-Service Transaction Machines:

The Access Board, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and The Department of Justice (DOJ) --

• Are undertaking related rulemakings • This is an opportunity to work collaboratively • to develop a single set of technical

requirements that would be referenced and scoped by each agency

Next Steps in the ICT Rulemaking process:

• Analyze comments

• Develop proposed rule (NPRM)

• Develop regulatory assessment

• Submit to Office of Management and Budget

• Publish NPRM in the Federal Register• Public comment period

• Final rule

QUESTIONS?

Want more information?• 800-872-2253 (voice)• 800-993-2822 (TTY)

• 508@access-board.gov• http://www.access-board.gov

• Creagan@access-board.gov

www.access-board.gov