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<DIV>Hi folks,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>See below for information on the above. Apologies for cross-posting.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Kind regards,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Frank</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Frank Mulcahy<BR>Franmar<BR>2 Castle Village Court<BR>Celbridge<BR>Co
Kildare<BR>Ireland</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Tel: +3531 6271 314<BR>Mobile/Cell Phone: +3538 7234 4934</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>eMail 1: <A href="mailto:fmulcahy@iol.ie">fmulcahy@iol.ie</A><BR>eMail 2:
<A href="mailto:fmulcahy2009@gmail.com">fmulcahy2009@gmail.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#008000 size=2><STRONG><EM>No trees were harmed in the
transmission of this email, although a few electrons were mildly
inconvenienced.<BR> <BR>Le do thoil, cuimhnigh ar an imshaol roimh
priontáil an ríomhphost seo.<BR>Please consider the environment before printing
this e-mail.<BR></EM></STRONG></FONT> <BR>
<H3><A name=four></A><FONT size=3>FCC's Broadband Plan Addresses Improved
Accessibility</FONT> </H3><IMG alt="FCC broadband plan (cover)" align=right
src="https://resources.govdelivery.com/resources/USACCESS/fcc.jpg" width=150>
<P>The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a comprehensive
blueprint to expand the availability and benefits of broadband technology,
including high-speed internet service, throughout the nation. The plan offers
strategies to make broadband available to all Americans and to maximize its use
in order to improve economic output, education, homeland security, healthcare,
and energy efficiency. "Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan"
recommends actions the FCC and other Federal agencies, as well as Congress, can
take to achieve key goals, including making broadband available to all Americans
and improving access for people with disabilities to enabled technologies. </P>
<P>"We must make clear that building in accessibility at the design and
development stage is cost-effective, and that all of society benefits from the
widespread use of accessibility features such as captioning, speech recognition,
and speech output," stated FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in announcing release
of the plan. He noted that broadband-enabled applications create unique
opportunities for accessibility and that recommendations of the plan will
maximize broadband use by people with disabilities, the majority of whom do not
have broadband connection in the home. </P>
<P>The plan calls for the Federal government to become a model for accessibility
and recommends creation of a working group of Federal agencies, including the
Access Board, to coordinate efforts to improve accessibility and compliance with
laws such as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. It also recommends creation
of a forum where stakeholders, including consumers, manufacturers, and service
providers, can share best practices, promote innovation, and develop
accessibility solutions. In addition, the plan advises the FCC and Congress to
update laws and regulations, including FCC rules issued under Section 255 of the
Telecommunications Act and the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act, to address access
to Internet Protocol-based communications and video-programming technologies.
Other agencies, such as the Department of Justice, are urged to address access
to digital content in the private sector under the ADA. The plan is available
online at <A
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; COLOR: #023d77; FONT-WEIGHT: bolder"
href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTc5NjQyMSZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC03OTY0MjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NzUzOTU5JmVtYWlsaWQ9Zm11bGNhaHlAaW9sLmllJnVzZXJpZD1mbXVsY2FoeUBpb2wuaWUmZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&104&&&http://www.broadband.gov/">www.broadband.gov</A>.
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