47 U.S.C. § 255 — Access by persons with disabilities

submitted 92 years ago by Pub. L. 104-104 to r/title-47-TELECOMMUNICATIONS · 241 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

Makers of phone equipment must design it to be usable by people with disabilities, if that's realistic. Phone service providers have the same duty for their services. If full access isn't realistic, the equipment or service must at least work with existing assistive devices.

(a) Definitions (1) "Disability" means what section 12102(2)(A) of title 42 says it means. (2) "Readily achievable" means what section 12181(9) of title 42 says it means. (b) Manufacturing A company that makes telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment must design, build, and make it accessible and usable by people with disabilities, if that's readily achievable. (c) Telecommunications services A company that provides telecommunications service must make that service accessible and usable by people with disabilities, if that's readily achievable. (d) Compatibility If full accessibility under (b) or (c) isn't readily achievable, the manufacturer or provider must instead make the equipment or service compatible with the peripheral devices or specialized equipment that people with disabilities commonly use to get access — again, if that's readily achievable. (e) Guidelines Within 18 months of February 8, 1996, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, working with the FCC, had to write accessibility guidelines for this equipment and service. The Board must review and update these guidelines regularly. (f) No additional private rights authorized This section does not let anyone sue in court to enforce it or its regulations. Only the FCC can handle complaints under this section.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a) Definitions

As used in this section—

(1) Disability

The term “disability” has the meaning given to it by section 12102(2)(A) 1 of title 42.

(2) Readily achievable

The term “readily achievable” has the meaning given to it by section 12181(9) of title 42.

(b) Manufacturing

A manufacturer of telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment shall ensure that the equipment is designed, developed, and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.

A provider of telecommunications service shall ensure that the service is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.

(d) Compatibility

Whenever the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) are not readily achievable, such a manufacturer or provider shall ensure that the equipment or service is compatible with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, if readily achievable.

(e) Guidelines

Within 18 months after February 8, 1996, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall develop guidelines for accessibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment in conjunction with the Commission. The Board shall review and update the guidelines periodically.

(f) No additional private rights authorized

Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any private right of action to enforce any requirement of this section or any regulation thereunder. The Commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any complaint under this section.

Source credit: (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 255, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 75.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1934Enacted · Pub. L. 104-104 · 110 Stat. 75

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 104-104 on 1934-06-19.

all 0 arguments · sorted by: best

no arguments yet — make the first case