DA 18-546
Released:  May 23, 2018

FCC ANNOUNCES THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) announces the next meeting of its Disability Advisory Committee (“DAC” or “Committee”) and the designation of Debra Patkin as the new alternate DAC Designated Federal Officer.  

MEETING DATE, TIME, AND AGENDA

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, at the FCC’s headquarters, Room TW-C305 (Commission Meeting Room), 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20554.  The meeting will be open to the public and webcast with open captioning at www.fcc.gov/live.  Notice of this meeting will be published in the Federal Register.  

The Committee was established in December 2014 to make recommendations to the Commission on a wide array of disability matters within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and to facilitate the participation of people with disabilities in proceedings before the Commission.  The Committee is organized under, and operated in accordance with, the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). 5 U.S.C. App. 2.
  The Committee held its first meeting on March 17, 2015, and its most recent meeting on October 16, 2017.  

As authorized by FACA, the Committee has established subcommittees, and the Commission has invited additional individuals and organizations who are not members of the full Committee to participate on these subcommittees.  Subcommittees have been established to consider the following four issues: 
· Emergency Communications; 
· Relay/Equipment Distribution; 
· Technology Transitions; and 
· Video Programming 

At its June 14, 2018 meeting, the Committee is expected to receive and consider reports from each of its subcommittees.  The Committee is also expected to receive presentations from Commission staff or others on matters of interest to the Committee.  In addition, a reserved amount of time will be available on the agenda for comments and inquiries from the public.  The public may comment or ask questions of presenters via email:  livequestions@fcc.gov.  These comments or questions may be addressed during the public comment period. 


ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS

	The meeting site is fully accessible to people using wheelchairs or other mobility aids.  Sign language interpreters, open captioning, and assistive listening devices will be provided on site.  Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.  If making a request for an accommodation, please 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 by sending an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or calling the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).  Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill.  The meeting will be webcast with open captioning at www.fcc.gov/live. 

NEW ALTERNATE DESIGNATED FEDERAL OFFICER

	The Chairman has named Debra Patkin, an attorney advisor with the Commission’s Disability Rights Office, as the new alternate Designated Federal Officer (DFO) of the DAC, effective as of the next DAC meeting. 

ACCESSIBLE FORMATS

To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), please 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 CONTACT:  Will Schell, DAC DFO, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, (202) 418-0767 (voice); email:  DAC@fcc.gov. 

2