One FCC neutrality elephant: disabilities compliance

[Mel Beckman <mel () beckman org>]

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/telecommunications-access-people-disabilities
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/title-iv-ada

Section 255 of Title II applies to Internet providers now, as does section 225 of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
(ADA). These rules have such unbelievable broad statements as:


"Accessibility and usability must be assessed for individual products and services. Accessibility features that can be 
incorporated into the design of products or services with very little or no difficulty or expense must be put in each 
and every product or service."

"...require network architecture to be designed in a way that does not hinder access by people with disabilities. 
Network architecture covers the public switched telephone network, and includes hardware or software databases 
associated with routing telecommunications services."

"Telecommunications service providers and equipment manufacturers must provide the FCC with the name and contact 
information of the person (or persons) in their companies who are authorized to resolve accessibility complaints."

"Each common carrier providing telephone voice transmission services shall, not later than 3 years after July 26, 1990, 
provide in compliance with the regulations prescribed under this section, throughout the area in which it offers 
service, telecommunications relay services"

"The term "telecommunications relay services" means telephone transmission services that provide the ability for an 
individual who has a hearing impairment or speech impairment to engage in communication by wire or radio with a hearing 
individual in a manner that is functionally equivalent to the ability of an individual who does not have a hearing 
impairment or speech impairment to communicate using voice communication services by wire or radio. Such term includes 
services that enable two-way communication between an individual who uses a TDD or other nonvoice terminal device and 
an individual who does not use such a device."

Many news stories have been published about how ADA was exploited by scammers to extort money out of bricks-and-mortar 
businesses. Now these scams are coming to the ISP biz.

http://www.adaabuse.com