PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
 St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 18-7
Released:  January 2, 2018
NOTICE CONCERNING EX PARTE STATUS OF INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO 
THE DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Disability Advisory Committee (Committee or DAC) was established in December 2014 to 
make recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or 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).
1
  The 
Committee is now in its second term,
2
 and has held three meetings during this term.
3
 
Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Commission is responsible for oversight of the 
DAC, including its subcommittees and working groups.
4
  FCC employees attend and participate in 
meetings and other activities held by the DAC, its subcommittees, and its working groups.  Accordingly, 
we announce that, pursuant to section 1.1200(a) of the Commission’s rules,
5
 presentations to the DAC, 
including its subcommittees and working groups, as well as presentations between FCC staff or 
Commissioners and members of the DAC, its subcommittees, or working groups, will be treated as 
exempt presentations for ex parte purposes.  This exemption shall apply to presentations made during all 
DAC-related events, including meetings and any DAC-sponsored roundtable discussions.  This treatment 
is appropriate because, as holds true for comments submitted in response to a Notice of Inquiry, 
presentations to the Committee will not directly result in the promulgation of new rules.
6
  
We recognize, however, that issues addressed by the DAC may be the subject of pending FCC 
proceedings.  The Commission will not rely in these proceedings on any information submitted to the 
DAC, or to any of its subcommittees, working groups, or sponsored roundtables, or on information 
conveyed by DAC members (including members of any subcommittees or working groups) to FCC staff 
or Commissioners, unless that information is first placed in the record of the relevant proceeding.
7
1
 5 U.S.C. App. 2.
2
 Appointment of Membership for the 2017-2019 Term of the Disability Advisory Committee and Announcement of 
Tentative Dates for DAC Meetings, Public Notice, 32 FCC Rcd 116 (CGB 2017).
3
 These meetings were held on March 21, June 16, and October 16, 20173.
4
 See 5 U.S.C. App. 2.
5
 47 CFR § 1.200(a).
6
 See 47 CFR § 1.1204(b)(1).  
7
 This notice updates a prior notice, released during the first term of the DAC, addressing the ex parte status of 
information submitted to or by the DAC.  Notice Regarding Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to or by the 
Disability Advisory Committee, Public Notice, 30 FCC Rcd 6233 (CGB 2015).  The treatment of ex parte 
2Additional information regarding the DAC can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/disability-
advisory-committee.  For more information, contact Elaine Gardner, Designated Federal Official for the 
DAC at (202) 418-0581 or DAC@fcc.gov, or Will Schell, Alternate Designated Federal Official for the 
DAC at (202) 418-0767.
- FCC -
presentations specified in this notice shall apply to this and future terms of the DAC unless modified by a 
subsequent public notice.