PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: https://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 16-884 Released: August 3, 2016 THE CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE COMMISSION’S POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCEWITH SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 CG Docket No. 10-162 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED Comments Due: October 3, 2016 The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) hereby initiates a review of the Commission’s policies and practices under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). 1 Section 504 requires federal agencies to make their programs and activities accessible to people with disabilities. Pursuant to Section 1.1810 of the Commission’s rules, this Notice seeks comment on the accessibility of the Commission’s programs and activities. 2 The Commission’s rules mandate that it conduct a review of its current Section 504 policies and practices in light of advances in relevant technology and achievability every three years, and that it regularly update its Section 504 Handbook. 3 The Section 504 Handbook contains guidance on the provision of accommodations for Commission programs and activities, procedures for acquiring reasonable accommodations, and information about disabilities and accessibility. The Bureau seeks comment on the overall accessibility of the Commission’s activities and programs. Overall accessibility includes, but is not limited to, the availability of sign language interpreters, physically accessible buildings and meeting spaces, accessible format documents, assistive listening devices, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), captioning, and other forms of reasonable accommodation needed for access to Commission programs and activities. 4 The Commission will carefully review all received comments in order to promote its efforts to maintain appropriate practices and procedures to ensure that its programs and activities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. 1 See 29 U.S.C. § 794. 2 47 CFR § 1.1810. 3 See 47 CFR § 1.1805; Federal Communications Commission Section 504 Programs & Activities Accessibility Handbook (Section 504 Handbook). The Section 504 Handbook is available in Word and PDF at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/section-504-handbook. 4 See generally Section 504 Handbook. 2Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before October 3, 2016. All comments must reference CG Docket No. 10-162. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). ? Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. ? Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. ? All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12 th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. ? Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. ? U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12 th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. A copy of this Notice and any subsequently filed documents in this matter will be available during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY- A257, Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 418-0270. This Notice and any subsequently filed documents in this matter may also be purchased from the Commission’s duplicating contractor at its website, www.bcpiweb.com, or call 1-800-378-3160. A copy of this Notice and any subsequently filed documents may also be found by searching on ECFS (insert CG Docket No. 10-162 into the Proceeding block). People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). For further information, please contact Helen Chang, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Section 504 Compliance Officer, at (202) 418-0424 (voice) or e-mail at Helen.Chang@fcc.gov.