*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 44074.doc* 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: November 22, 2004 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418- 0511 e- mail: rosemary. kimball@ fcc. gov CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ADDRESSES HOMELAND SECURITY AND DTV ISSUES AT NOVEMBER 19 MEETING; COMMITTEE RECHARTERED FOR ANOTHER TWO YEAR TERM Washington, DC – The Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) met last Friday, November 19. The CAC made recommendations to the FCC regarding homeland security, consumer complaints, and digital television. It also heard presentations on wireless solutions for people who are blind or visually impaired, and received a briefing regarding how to most effectively navigate the FCC’s website The CAC is organized under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and its members represent the FCC’s many constituencies. As a result of the expertise and diversity of its membership, the CAC provides a balanced point of view as it makes recommendations to the FCC on a variety of important issues. The Committee is chartered for a two year period. At the meeting, K. Dane Snowden, chief of the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, announced that the CAC had been rechartered as of November 19 for another two year term. Snowden said, “The rechartering ensures that the CAC will continue to be a vital voice for the consumer at the FCC. In December we will be soliciting applications from people interested in being members of the rechartered Committee.” Over the past two years, the Committee has conducted five plenary meetings and numerous working group or subcommittee meetings. It has addressed consumer protection and education issues on topics such as cramming, slamming, consumer friendly billing, detariffing, bundling of services, Lifeline/ Linkup programs and outreach to underserved populations, such as American Indians and persons living in rural areas. CAC has also been active in addressing issues involving access by people with disabilities; the impact upon consumers of new and emerging technologies; implementation of Commission rules; and consumer participation in the FCC rulemaking process. 1 CAC has provided recommendations to the Commission on the consumer complaints and outreach process, the modernization of the FCC, broadband, and telecommunications relay services. CGB Contact: Scott Marshall 202- 418- 2809 (voice) or 202- 418- 0179 (TTY); e- mail: scott. marshall@ fcc. gov. Accessible Formats 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 & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202- 418- 0530 (voice), 202- 418- 0432 (tty). - FCC - 2