Satisfying Government Requirements for Accessibility

What is Section 255 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act?

According to the FCC, “Section 255 requires manufacturers and providers to make their devices and services compatible with peripheral devices and specialized customer premises equipment that are commonly used by people with disabilities, if such compatibility is readily achievable.”

The FCC’s rules cover all hardware and software telephone network equipment and customer premises equipment (CPE). CPE is telecommunications equipment used in the Main or office (or other premises) to originate, route, or terminate telecommunications. Examples of CPE are telephones, fax machines, answering machines, and pagers.

The FCC’s rules cover basic and special telecommunications services, including regular telephone calls, call waiting, speed dialing, call forwarding, computer-provided directory assistance, call monitoring, caller identification, call tracing, and repeat dialing. In addition, the new rules cover interactive voice response (IVR) systems and voice mail. IVR systems are phone systems that provide callers with menus of choices.

Why is this important to companies?

Companies that address accessibility issues will have a competitive edge, and their products will be more useable by all consumers, not just people with disabilities. As the federal government becomes more aware of accessibility in products (see below) this will become a more important issue.
CforAT is a resource for companies in creating accessible products. We conduct accessibility testing, help create accessibility filters for product development processes, and gather user feedback on usability of specific products. For more information on CforAT’s 255 consulting, click here

What is Section 508?

Section 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act was amended in 1998 to state that Federal agencies must make electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. What this means is that when Federal agencies develop, purchase, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, Federal employees with disabilities must have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not people with disabilities.

Section 508 also requires that members of the public who are people with disabilities, and who are seeking information or services from a Federal agency, must have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who do not need such adaptations

Federal agencies must also purchase commercial products that comply with Section 508 standards (when such products are available). If no accessible product is available, the Agency must purchase the product that most closely satisfies the requirements of Section 508. Why is this important for companies?
Technology companies that want to secure government contracts will have to address Section 508 standards in their product design. Companies that have addressed accessibility issues will have a competitive edge, and their bids will be seen as much more attractive than bids from companies that have not considered accessibility in their products. Developing accessible products makes good business sense, not only because people with disabilities will buy them, but also because they are more useable by all consumers, and because the federal government will also consider accessibility in purchasing.

CforAT is a resource for companies in creating accessible products. We conduct accessibility testing, help create accessibility filters for product development processes, and gather user feedback on usability of specific products.
For more information on CforAT’s 508 consulting, contact us.

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