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 Federal  Communications  Commission  FCC  03-  48 
 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  CHAIRMAN  MICHAEL  K.  POWELL 


 Re:  Amendment  of  Part  1,  Subpart  N  of  the  Commission’s  Rules  Concerning  Non-Discrimination  on  the  Basis  of  Disability  in  the  Commission’s  Programs  and  Activities. 
 Technology  has  the  power  to  deliver  to  Americans  with  disabilities  access  that  previously  was  unimaginable.  Making  access  solutions  available  to  the  disability 
 community  has  been  a  core  objective  of  this  Commission  –  from  closed  captioning  to  IP  relay.  Today’s  Order  ensures  that  a  high  level  of  access  extends  to  the  Commission  as 
 well,  so  that  all  Americans  have  the  opportunity  to  meaningfully  participate  in  the  Commission’s  work. 


 Since  the  Commission  first  promulgated  disability  accommodation  rules  in  1987,  there  have  been  many  changes  in  disability  law,  and  the  “state  of  the  art”  in  access 
 technology  has  advanced  considerably.  Today’s  Order  brings  the  Commission’s  rules  up-  to-  date  with  these  changes.  In  addition,  adoption  of  the  Accessibility  Handbook  will 
 ensure  that  the  Commission’s  policies  are  consistently  applied  and  that  all  Commission  staff  are  adequately  prepared  to  deal  with  accommodation  requests.  The  Order  further 
 provides  that  every  three  years  the  Commission  will  review  its  accommodation  policies,  so  that  we  may  learn  and  grow  from  our  experiences,  and  keep  pace  with  ever-  changing 
 technology.  Only  through  constant  vigilance  can  we  ensure  that  individuals  with  disabilities  are  obtaining  the  best  possible  accommodations  and  the  highest  level  of 
 access. 
 The  creation  of  this  Accessibility  Handbook  was  a  significant  undertaking.  I  applaud  the  leadership  demonstrated  by  the  Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau  and  its 
 Disability  Rights  Office  in  making  this  remarkable  and  practical  resource  a  reality  –  and  a  model  for  other  federal  agencies  and  the  private  sector.  Such  efforts  further  secure  the 
 FCC’s  place  as  one  of  the  most  accessible  institutions  in  government  –  an  achievement  for  which  I  am  tremendously  proud. 
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