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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 For  immediate  release:  News  Media  Contact:  May  2,  2003  Rosemary  Kimball  at  (202)  418-  0511 
 e-  mail:  rkimball@  fcc.  gov 
 AMENDED  RULES  BECOME  EFFECTIVE  THAT  ENSURE  PERSONS  WITH  DISABILITIES  ARE  ABLE  TO  PARTICIPATE  FULLY  IN  FCC  PROGRAMS  AND 
 ACTIVITIES 
 Washington,  DC  –  On  April  28,  the  Commission’s  amended  rules  to  ensure  that  persons  with  disabilities  are  able  to  participate  fully  in  FCC  programs  and  activities 
 became  effective. 
 The  rules  were  adopted  in  an  Order  (FCC  03-  48)  on  March  4  and  published  in  the  Federal  Register  (68  Fed  Reg  22315)  on  April  28 
 .  The  amended  rules  include  adoption  of  the  Section  504  Programs  &  Activities 
 Accessibility  Handbook,  which  is  a  clear  and  comprehensive  collection  of  guidelines,  information,  and  procedures  to  ensure  that  the  Commission  is  accessible  to  individuals 
 with  disabilities.  The  Handbook  will  be  particularly  helpful  for  planning  events  so  that  persons  with  disabilities  will  be  able  to  participate  fully.  The  FCC  has  long  been 
 committed  to  fostering  an  attitude  of  inclusion  and  a  commitment  to  access  in  all  Commission  programs  and  activities. 


 The  Handbook  is  available  to  the  public  for  viewing  and  downloading  on  the  FCC’s  website  at  http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  cgb/  dro/  section_  504.  html.  It  is  also  available  in 
 PDF,  HTML,  text,  and  electronic  downloadable  braille. 


 The  new  rules,  in  part: 
 €  State  that  requests  for  accommodation  requiring  the  assistance  of  other  persons  (e.  g.,  an  American  Sign  Language  interpreter)  should  be  made  five  business 


 days  before  a  Commission  event.  If  the  request  is  made  on  less  than  five  days  notice,  however,  the  Commission  will  make  every  effort  to  secure  the  services  of 
 a  person  to  provide  the  requested  assistance’  ; 
 €  Specify  that  the  Commission  will  conduct  a  self-  evaluation  process  every  three  years.  During  the  reviews  the  Commission  will  seek  public  comment  on  the 


 accessibility  of  its  programs  and  activities  as  required  by  the  Rehabilitation  Act  of  1973. 
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 €  Amend  the  language  to  reflect  the  language  in  the  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act.  This  included  replacing  terms  “handicap,”  “individual  with  a  handicap,”  and 
 “individuals  with  handicaps”  with  the  terms  “disability,”  “individual  with  a  disability,”  and  “individuals  with  disabilities,”  respectively. 


 -  FCC  - 
 CGB  contacts:  Susan  Magnotti:  (202)  418-  0871  (voice);  (202)  418-  0538  (TTY);  e-  mail:  smagnott@  fcc.  gov;  Helen  Chang,  Section  504  Officer:  (202)  418-  0424  (voice); 


 (202)  418-  0432  (TTY);  e-  mail:  hchang@  fcc.  gov 
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