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: February 12, 2014 Mike Snyder, 202-418-0997 Email: michael.snyder@fcc.gov FCC SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL CHAIRMAN’S AWARDS FOR ADVANCEMENT IN ACCESSIBILITY (CHAIRMAN’S AAA) Recognizing Innovations in the Field of Accessibility and Technology Washington, D.C. –Nominations for this year’s Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman’s AAA) will be accepted soon. Part of the FCC’s Accessibility and Innovation Initiative (A&I Initiative), the awards honor outstanding private and public sector ventures that advance accessibility for people with disabilities. Ventures may include mainstream or assistive technologies introduced into the marketplace, development of standards, and implementation of best practices that foster accessibility. Winners and honorable mentions will receive their awards from FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in June 2014. The exact date and location will be announced in the future. How to Submit Nominations ? Email nominations to ChairmansAAA@fcc.gov, between 12:01 AM February 17, 2014 and 11:59 PM March 31, 2014. ? The nominated product, service, technology, or practice must have been introduced to the public between August 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013. ? Nominations should include a brief description of the innovation, identification of the category of innovation, the date the innovation was introduced to the public, and why the innovation qualifies for the Chairman’s Award. ? The contest is open to any individual or entity in the public or private sector, or a combination thereof. ? Self-nominations and those made by a third party will be accepted. Award Categories ? Advanced Communication Services (ACS) – For solutions that make ACS more accessible to and easier to use by people with disabilities. ? Employment Opportunities – For communication solutions that help individuals with disabilities find employment or perform job tasks more productively. ? Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities –For solutions that make communications products or services more accessible to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ? Mobile Web Browsers – For innovations that can ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of mobile browser interfaces so people who are blind or visually impaired can achieve full access to information and communications via the Internet. ? Social Media – To recognize innovations in technologies, standards, or practices that can increase access to social media for persons with disabilities. ? Closed Captions – For solutions that make quality captions easier to produce or watch. Nominations may be for products or services related to TV programs, web videos, removable media, or streaming video programming services. ? Video Description – For solutions that can make quality video description (narrative statements that enable people who are blind or visually impaired to understand key program elements that are only conveyed visually) easier to produce or consume. Nominations may be for products or services related to TV programs, web videos, removable media, or streaming video services. Criteria ? Whether the innovation is unique and inventive ? The disability needs addressed by the innovation ? The number of people likely to benefit from the innovation ? How affordable and available the innovation is for its intended users ? Whether recognition by the FCC Chairman is likely to foster additional innovation and accessibility For questions or inquiries about the Chairman’s AAA contest, please contact Jamal Mazrui, Deputy Director, Accessibility and Innovation Initiative, via phone (202) 418-0069 or via email at Jamal.Mazrui@fcc.gov or Kelly Jones, (202) 418-7078 or email, Kelly.Jones@fcc.gov. Inquiries may also be sent to ChairmansAAA@fcc.gov. For more information about the FCC, visit www.fcc.gov. --FCC--