PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 12-379 March 9, 2012 THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION’S EMERGENCY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO SPONSOR AN EXHIBITION FAIR OF “TEXT-TO-911” TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS MARCH 28 & 29, 2012 By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission’s (Commission) Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC) provides further detail about the Exhibition Fair of “text-to-9-1-1” mobile solutions previously announced on February 23, 2012.1 Specifically, the Exhibition Fair will be open to the public during the hours of 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Exhibits will be displayed in the Commission’s Technology Experience Center, Room TW-B505, located at the Commission’s headquarters at 445 12th Street, S.W., in Washington, D.C. The EAAC is an advisory committee required by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA).2 Its purpose is to determine the most effective and efficient technologies and methods by which to enable access to Next Generation 911 (NG911) emergency services by individuals with disabilities,3 and to make recommendations to the Commission on how to achieve those effective and efficient technologies and methods.4 During the spring of 2011, the EAAC conducted a nationwide survey of individuals with disabilities and released a report on that survey on June 21, 2011.5 Following release of the survey report, the EAAC developed recommendations, which it submitted to the Commission on December 7, 2011, as required by the CVAA.6 One of these recommendations covers “text-to-911” mobile solutions that can be rapidly deployed to provide nationwide access to 9-1-1 services to people with disabilities during the transition to NG911.7 The Exhibition Fair furthers this stated objective. 1 The Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Access Advisory Committee To Sponsor An Exhibition Fair Of “Text-To-911” Technologies And Applications, Public Notice, DA 12-266 (rel. Feb. 23, 2012). 2 Pub. L. No. 111-260, as amended by technical amendments contained in Pub. L. No. 111-265. See also Emergency Access Advisory Committee Announcement of Members and Co-Chairpersons, Public Notice, DA 10- 2318 (CGB rel. Dec. 7, 2010) 3 Pub. L. No. 111-260 § 106(a). 4 Pub. L. No. 111-260 § 106(c). 5 The EAAC Report on Emergency Calling for Persons with Disabilities; Survey Review and Analysis 2011 is available at http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/EAAC/EAAC-REPORT.pdf. 6 See the EAAC Report and Recommendations at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC- 312161A1.doc 7 Id. Recommendation T1.2. 2 Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). Additional information regarding the EAAC can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-access-advisory-committee-eaac. For more information, contact Cheryl King at (202) 418-2284 or Cheryl.king@fcc.gov or Patrick Donovan at (202) 418-2413 or patrick.donovan@fcc.gov. - FCC -