ARLINGTON, Va.-The Telecommunications Industry Association filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission in response to the FCC’s Notice of Inquiry regarding Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Section 225 deals with readily accessible telecommunications equipment, customer premises equipment and services for disabled people.
The FCC asked whether it should use its statutorily-exclusive authority to resolve complaints through case-by-case adjudication, promulgation of a policy statement or guidelines, or FCC rules. TIA encouraged the FCC to use guidelines rather than rules because it said the FCC’s rules are typically inflexible and difficult to amend.
The Notice of Inquiry also requested comment on whether a manufacturer or service provider must make all of its telecommunications equipment, customer premises equipment or service offerings accessible to people with various disabilities. TIA responded that it would be difficult for a single manufacturer to design features for accessibility into all of its products, and in attempts to accommodate one group of disabled people, companies could alienate other groups.
The FCC’s final request for comments dealt with how it should carry out its duty to resolve complaints filed under Section 225. TIA said guidelines should be created urging disabled people first to take up grievances with the manufacturer or supplier before bringing them to the FCC.
