Fed Regist. 1998 May 22;63(99):28456-73.
This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is an important step in the Commission's effort to increase the accessibility of telecommunications services and equipment to Americans with disabilities. The NPRM proposes a framework for implementing section 255 of the Communications Act of 1934 (Act), which requires telecommunications equipment manufacturers and service providers to ensure that their equipment and services are accessible to persons with disabilities, to the extent it is readily achievable to do so. In addition, if accessibility is not readily achievable, section 255 requires manufacturers and service providers to ensure compatibility with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, to the extent it is readily achievable to do so. The NPRM first explores the Commission's legal authority to establish rules implementing section 255. The NPRM then seeks comment on the interpretation of specific statutory terms that are relevant to the proceeding. Finally, the NPRM seeks comment on proposals to implement and enforce the requirement that telecommunications equipment and services be made accessible to the extent readily achievable. The actions proposed in the NPRM are needed to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind in the telecommunications revolution and consequently isolated from contemporary life.
本拟议规则制定通知（NPRM）是联邦通信委员会努力提高电信服务和设备对残疾美国人可及性的重要一步。该拟议规则制定通知提出了一个实施1934年《通信法》（法案）第255节的框架，该节要求电信设备制造商和服务提供商确保其设备和服务在切实可行的范围内可供残疾人使用。此外，如果无障碍使用并非切实可行，第255节要求制造商和服务提供商在切实可行的范围内确保与残疾人常用的现有外围设备或专用客户驻地设备兼容，以实现接入。该拟议规则制定通知首先探讨了联邦通信委员会制定实施第255节规则的法律权限。然后，该拟议规则制定通知就与该程序相关的特定法定术语的解释征求意见。最后，该拟议规则制定通知就实施和执行电信设备和服务在切实可行范围内实现无障碍使用这一要求的提案征求意见。拟议规则制定通知中提出的行动是确保残疾人不被电信革命抛在后面并因此与现代生活隔绝所必需的。
