Released: November 27, 2018 FCC SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR THE EIGHTH CHAIRMAN’S AWARDS FOR ADVANCEMENT IN ACCESSIBILITY (CHAIRMAN’S AAA) Recognizing Innovations in the Field of Accessibility and Technology Washington, D.C. – By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) will accept nominations for the eighth Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman’s AAA). The nomination period opens on December 1, 2018 and continues through February 28, 2019 for products, services, technologies or practices introduced to the public between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. The Chairman’s AAA are part of an FCC effort designed to recognize the efforts of individuals, organizations, academic institutions, companies and government agencies to make communications tools more accessible to people with disabilities. This effort also aims to encourage technological innovation and accessibility in communications-related areas. The Chairman’s AAA was first introduced in 2010 at the FCC’s celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the first award ceremony occurred in 2011. Since that time, the Chairman’s AAA has been awarded on seven occasions to recognize outstanding private and public-sector innovations designed to advance accessibility for people with disabilities. For information about prior winners of the Chairman’s AAA, visit fcc.gov/chairmansAAA. This webpage provides illustrative examples of areas previously identified as fields in which technology advances have substantively benefitted persons with disabilities. For this eighth Chairman’s AAA, the FCC again seeks nominations for emerging and innovative technologies. Nominations may be submitted for the development of new mainstream or assistive technologies introduced into the marketplace, the development of standards, or the implementation of best practices that further accessibility. In addition, nominations may be submitted for any product, service, technology or practice introduced to the public for the first time that is the result of an invention of an innovative technology, repurposing or redesign of existing technologies, or combining existing technologies in novel ways to increase accessibility for people with disabilities. The Chairman’s AAA is open to any individual or entity in the public or private sector, or a combination thereof. The following considerations will be used in determining the award winners: · Whether the nominated effort advancing accessibility was introduced between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018; · The degree to which the nominated effort is unique and inventive; · The disability needs addressed and/or impacted by the nominated effort. For example, whether the nominated effort impacts a particular audience in significant ways (e.g. innovations that address unique needs, reach underserved or small populations) or reaches a broad audience in smaller but pervasive ways (e.g. increasing awareness, affecting deployment or adoption of accessible technologies); · How affordable and available the nominated effort is for its intended users; and · The degree to which the nominated effort would significantly and tangibly benefit from recognition by the Chairman. Each nomination should include: · Details about the problem or challenge addressed by the innovation, including background information if available; · A description of the innovation, including links to demos or detailed information; · The date the innovation was introduced; · A description of how the award would impact continued success and progress to advance access by people with disabilities; and · An explanation of why the innovation qualifies for the Chairman’s Award. Please send all nominations to: ChairmansAAA@fcc.gov by February 28, 2019. Selected nominations will be recognized at a ceremony to be held in June 18, 2019. A subsequent announcement will be made providing further specifics about the Chairman’s AAA ceremony, including exact time and location. For questions or inquiries about the Chairman’s AAA ceremony, please contact Deandrea Wilson (202-418-0703) or call the ASL Consumer Support Line at 1-844-432-2275 via videophone. Inquiries may also be sent to ChairmansAAA@fcc.gov. - FCC - 2