36 CFR Part 1194 - Proposed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines NPRM
36 CFR Part 1194 - Proposed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines NPRM
Published in the Federal Register on February 27, 2015 (80 FR 10880).
36 CFR Parts 1193 and 1194
[Docket No. ATBCB-2015-0002]
RIN 3014-AA37
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines
AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board or Board), is proposing to revise and update, in a single document, both its standards for electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies covered by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and its guidelines for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment covered by Section 255 of the Communications Act of 1934. The proposed revisions and updates to the section 508-based standards and section 255-based guidelines are intended to ensure that information and communication technology covered by the respective statutes is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
DATES: Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must be submitted on or before May 28, 2015. Two hearings will be held on the proposed rule on:
1. March 5, 2015, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., San Diego, CA; and
2. March 11, 2015, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Washington, DC.
To preregister to testify at either of the hearings, contact Kathy Johnson at (202) 272–0041 (voice), (202) 272–0082 (TTY), or johnson@access-board.gov This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any one of the following methods:
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Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. The Regulations.gov ID for this docket is ATBCB-2015-0002.
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E-mail: docket@access-board.gov This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Include docket number ATBCB-2015-0002 in the subject line of the message.
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Fax: 202-272-0081.
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Mail or Hand Delivery/Courier: Office of Technical and Information Services, Access Board, 1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111.
All comments, including any personal information provided, will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov and be available for public viewing.
The hearing locations are:
1. San Diego, CA: Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel (Mission Beach A & B, 3rd floor), One Market Place, San Diego, CA 92101.
2. Washington, DC: Access Board conference room, 1331 F Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004.
Witnesses can testify in person at the hearing in San Diego. Witnesses can testify in person or by telephone at the hearing in Washington, DC. Copies of the rule will not be available at the hearings. Call-in information and a communication access real-time translation (CART) web streaming link for the Washington, DC hearing will be posted on the Access Board’s website at http://www.access-board.gov/ictrefresh. The hearings will be accessible to persons with disabilities. An assistive listening system, communication access real-time translation, and sign language interpreters will be provided. Persons attending the meetings are requested to refrain from using perfume, cologne, and other fragrances for the comfort of other participants (see http://www.access-board.gov/the-board/policies/fragrance-free-environment for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Creagan, Access Board, 1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111. Telephone: (202) 272-0016 (voice) or (202) 272-0074 (TTY). E-mail address: 508@access-board.gov.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, under the authority of 47 U.S.C. 255(e), the Board proposes to amend 36 CFR chapter XI, as follows:
PART 1193 [REMOVED]
1. Remove part 1193.
2. Revise part 1194 to read as follows:
PART 1194 – INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
Sec. 1194.1 Standards for Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
1194.2 Guidelines for Section 255 of the Communications Act.
Appendix A to Part 1194 – Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Application and Scoping Requirements
Appendix B to Part 1194 – Section 255 of the Communications Act: Application and Scoping Requirements
Appendix C to Part 1194 – Technical Requirements
Authority: 29 U.S.C. 794d, 47 U.S.C. 255.
§1194.1 – Standards for Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The standards for information and communication technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act are set forth in Appendices A and C to this part.
§1194.2 – Guidelines for Section 255 of the Communications Act.
The guidelines for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment covered by Section 255 of the Communications Act are set forth in Appendices B and C to this part.
E101.1 Purpose.
These 508 Standards, which consist of 508 Chapters 1 and 2 (Appendix A), along with Chapters 3 through 6 (Appendix C), contain scoping and technical requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) that is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Compliance with these standards is mandatory for federal agencies subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d).
E101.2 Equivalent Facilitation.
The use of an alternative design or technology that results in substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities than would be provided by conformance to one or more of the requirements in Chapters 4 and 5 of the 508 Standards is permitted. The functional performance criteria in Chapter 3 shall be used to determine whether substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability is provided to individuals with disabilities.
E101.3 Conventional Industry Tolerances.
Dimensions are subject to conventional industry tolerances except where dimensions are stated as a range.
E101.4 Units of Measurement.
Measurements are stated in metric and U.S. customary units. The values stated in each system (metric and U.S. customary units) may not be exact equivalents, and each system shall be used independently of the other.
E102.1 Incorporation by Reference.
The specific editions of the standards and guidelines listed in E102 are incorporated by reference in the 508 Standards and are part of the requirements to the prescribed extent of each such reference. Where conflicts occur between the 508 Standards and the referenced standards, these standards apply. The Director of the Office of the Federal Register has approved the standards for incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of the referenced standards may be inspected at the Access Board’s office, 1331 F Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004.
E102.2 American National Standards Institute/ Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (ANSI/HFES).
Copies of the referenced standard may be obtained from Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, P.O. Box 1369, Santa Monica, CA 90406-1369 (http://www.hfes.org/Publications/ProductDetail.aspx?Id=76).
ANSI/HFES 200.2 Human Factors Engineering of Software User Interfaces — Part 2: Accessibility, (2008), IBR proposed for Section 502.4.
E102.3 American National Standards Institute/ Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (ANSI/IEEE).
Copies of the referenced standard may be obtained from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 10662 Los Vaqueros Circle, P.O. Box 3014, Los Alamitos, CA 90720-1264 (http://www.ieee.org/).
ANSI/IEEE C63.19-2011 American National Standard for Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids, Committee C63 – Electromagnetic Compatibility, May 27, 2011, IBR proposed for Section 410.4.1.
E102.4 Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC).
Copies of the referenced standard may be obtained from the Advanced Television Systems Committee, 1776 K Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006-2304 (http://www.atsc.org/).
A/53 Digital Television Standard, Part 5: AC-3 Audio System Characteristics, (2010), IBR proposed for Section 412.1.1.
E102.5 Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
Copies of the referenced standard may be obtained from the Internet Engineering Task Force (http://www.ietf.org/).
Request for Comments (RFC) 4103, Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) Payload for Text Conversation (2005), G. Hellstrom, Omnitor AB, and P. Jones, Cisco Systems, IBR proposed for Section 410.6.3.2.
E102.6 International Standards Organization (ISO).
Copies of the referenced standards may be obtained from International Organization for Standardization, ISO Central Secretariat, 1, ch. de la Voie-Creuse, CP 56 - CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland (http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=54564).
ISO 14289-1 Document management applications — Electronic document file format enhancement for accessibility — Part 1: Use of ISO 32000-1 (PDF/UA-1), Technical Committee ISO/TC 171, Document Management Applications, Subcommittee SC 2, Application Issues, (2014), IBR proposed for Sections E205.1 and 602.3.1.
E102.7 International Telecommunications Union Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T).
Copies of the referenced standards may be obtained from the International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunications Standardization Sector, Place des Nations CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland (http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T).
E102.7.1 ITU-T Recommendation G.722.
General Aspects of Digital Transmission Systems, Terminal Components, 7 kHz Audio-Coding within 64 Kbits/s, (September 2012), IBR proposed for Section 410.5.
E102.7.2 ITU-T Recommendation E.161.
Arrangement of digits, letters and symbols on telephones and other devices that can be used for gaining access to a telephone network, ITU – T Study Group 2, (February 2001), IBR proposed for Section 407.3.2.
E102.8 Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).
Copies of the referenced standards, published by the Telecommunications Industry Association, may be obtained from IHS, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, CO 80112 (http://global.ihs.com/).
A Frequency Shift Keyed Modem for Use on the Public Switched Telephone Network, (2003), IBR proposed for Section 410.6.3.1.
Telephone Terminal Equipment Handset Magnetic Measurement Procedures and Performance Requirements, (March 2007), IBR proposed for Section 410.4.2.
E102.9 Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C).
Copies of the referenced guidelines may be obtained from the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Room 32-G515, Cambridge, MA 02139 (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20).
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, W3C Recommendation, December 2008, IBR proposed for Sections E205.1, E207.2, 405.1 Exception, 501.1 Exception 1, 504.2, 504.3, 504.4, and 602.3.1.
E103.1 Terms Defined in Referenced Standards.
Terms defined in referenced standards and not defined in E103.4 shall have the meaning as defined in the referenced standards.
E103.2 Undefined Terms.
Any term not defined in E103.4 or in referenced standards shall be given its ordinarily accepted meaning in the sense that the context implies.
E103.3 Interchangeability.
Words, terms, and phrases used in the singular include the plural and those used in the plural include the singular.
E103.4 Defined Terms.
For the purpose of the 508 Standards, the terms defined in E103.4 have the indicated meaning.
The standards for ICT developed, procured, maintained, or used by agencies subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as set forth in 508 Chapters 1 and 2 (36 CFR Part 1194, Appendix A ), and Chapters 3 through 6 (36 CFR Part 1194, Appendix C).
Any agency or department of the United States as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502, and the United States Postal Service.
Software designed to perform, or to help the user to perform, a specific task or tasks.
Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
Narration added to the soundtrack to describe important visual details that cannot be understood from the main soundtrack alone. Audio description is a means to inform individuals who are blind or who have low vision about visual content essential for comprehension. Audio description of video provides information about actions, characters, scene changes, on-screen text, and other visual content. Audio description supplements the regular audio track of a program. Audio description is usually added during existing pauses in dialogue. Audio description is also called “video description” and “descriptive narration”.
Any software, or collection of software components, that can be used by authors, alone or collaboratively, to create or modify content for use by others, including other authors.
Characteristics that limit functionality or prevent a user from attaching or installing assistive technology. Examples of ICT with closed functionality are self-service machines, information kiosks, set-top boxes, fax machines, calculators, and computers that are locked down so that users may not adjust settings due to a policy such as Desktop Core Configuration.
Electronic information and data, as well as the encoding that defines its structure, presentation, and interactions.
A tangible device, equipment, or physical component of ICT, such as telephones, computers, multifunction copy machines, and keyboards.
Shall have the same meaning as the term “information technology” set forth in 40 U.S.C. 11101(6).
Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Information technology and other equipment, systems, technologies, or processes, for which the principal function is the creation, manipulation, storage, display, receipt, or transmission of electronic data and information, as well as any associated content. Examples of ICT include, but are not limited to: computers and peripheral equipment; information kiosks and transaction machines; telecommunications equipment; customer premises equipment; multifunction office machines; software; applications; websites; videos; and, electronic documents.
A set of systematically arranged alphanumeric keys or a control that generates alphanumeric input by which a machine or device is operated. A keyboard includes tactilely discernible keys used in conjunction with the alphanumeric keys if their function maps to keys on the keyboard interfaces.
Text, or a component with a text alternative, that is presented to a user to identify content. A label is presented to all users, whereas a name may be hidden and only exposed by assistive technology. In many cases, the name and the label are the same.
A set of selectable options.
Text by which software can identify a component to the user. A name may be hidden and only exposed by assistive technology, whereas a label is presented to all users. In many cases, the label and the name are the same. Name is unrelated to the name attribute in HTML.
A component of ICT used to activate, deactivate, or adjust the ICT.
Platform Accessibility Services.
Services provided by a platform enabling interoperability with assistive technology. Examples are Application Programming Interfaces (API) and the Document Object Model (DOM).
Software that interacts with hardware, or provides services for other software. Platform software may run or host other software, and may isolate them from underlying software or hardware layers. A single software component may have both platform and non-platform aspects. Examples of platforms are: desktop operating systems; embedded operating systems, including mobile systems; Web browsers; plug-ins to Web browsers that render a particular media or format; and sets of components that allow other applications to execute, such as applications which support macros or scripting.
Programmatically Determinable.
Ability to be determined by software from author-supplied data that is provided in a way that different user agents, including assistive technologies, can extract and present the information to users in different modalities.
Content made available by an agency to members of the general public. Examples include, but are not limited to, an agency website, blog post, or social media pages.
Communications using the transmission of text by which characters are transmitted by a terminal as they are typed. Real-time text is used for conversational purposes. Real-time text also may be used in voicemail, interactive voice response systems, and other similar applications.
Programs, procedures, rules and related data and documentation that direct the use and operation of ICT and instruct it to perform a given task or function.
The signal transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.
Device or software with which the end user directly interacts and that provides the user interface. For some systems, the software that provides the user interface may reside on more than one device such as a telephone and a server.
A sequence of characters that can be programmatically determined and that expresses something in human language.
Equipment that enables interactive text based communications through the transmission of frequency-shift-keying audio tones across the public switched telephone network. TTYs include devices for real-time text communications and voice and text intermixed communications. Examples of intermixed communications are voice carry over and hearing carry over. One example of a TTY is a computer with TTY emulating software and modem.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
A technology that provides real-time voice communications. VoIP requires a broadband connection from the user’s location and customer premises equipment compatible with Internet protocol.
E201.1 Scope.
ICT that is procured, developed, maintained, or used by agencies shall conform to the 508 Standards.
E202.1 General.
ICT shall be exempt from compliance with the 508 Standards to the extent specified by E202.
E202.2 National Security Systems.
The 508 standards do not apply to ICT operated by agencies as part of a national security system, as defined by 40 U.S.C. 11103(a).
E202.3 Federal Contracts.
ICT acquired by a contractor incidental to a contract shall not be required to conform to the 508 Standards.
E202.4 ICT Functions Located in Maintenance or Monitoring Spaces.
Where status indicators and operable parts for ICT functions are located in spaces that are frequented only by service personnel for maintenance, repair, or occasional monitoring of equipment, such status indicators and operable parts shall not be required to conform to the 508 Standards.
E202.5 Undue Burden or Fundamental Alteration.
Where an agency determines in accordance with E202.5 that conformance to requirements in the 508 Standards would impose an undue burden or would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the ICT, conformance shall be required only to the extent that it does not impose an undue burden or result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the ICT.
E202.5.1 Basis for a Determination of Undue Burden.
In determining whether conformance to requirements in the 508 Standards would impose an undue burden on the agency, the agency shall consider the extent to which conformance would impose significant difficulty or expense considering the agency resources available to the program or component for which the ICT is to be procured, developed, maintained, or used.
E202.5.2 Required Documentation.
The responsible agency official shall document in writing the basis for determining that conformance to requirements in the 508 Standards constitute an undue burden on the agency, or would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the ICT. The documentation shall include an explanation of why and to what extent compliance with applicable requirements would create an undue burden or result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the ICT.
Where conformance to one or more requirements in the 508 Standards imposes an undue burden or a fundamental alteration in the nature of the ICT, the agency shall provide individuals with disabilities access to and use of information and data by an alternative means that meets identified needs.
E202.6 Best Meets.
Where ICT conforming to one or more requirements in the 508 Standards is not commercially available, the agency shall procure the product that best meets the 508 Standards consistent with the agency’s business needs.
E202.6.1 Required Documentation.
The responsible agency official shall document in writing: (a) the nonavailability of conforming ICT, including a description of market research performed and which provisions cannot be met, and (b) the basis for determining that the ICT to be procured best meets the requirements in the 508 Standards consistent with the agency’s business needs.
Where ICT that fully conforms to the 508 Standards is not commercially available, the agency shall provide individuals with disabilities access to and use of information and data by an alternative means that meets identified needs.
E203.1 General.
Agencies shall ensure that all functionality of ICT is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, either directly or by supporting the use of assistive technology, and shall comply with E203. In providing access to all functionality of ICT, agencies shall ensure the following:
a. That federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities; and
b. That members of the public with disabilities who are seeking information or data from a federal agency have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to members of the public who are not individuals with disabilities.
E203.2 Agency Business Needs.
When agencies procure, develop, maintain or use ICT they shall identify the business needs of users with disabilities affecting vision, hearing, color perception, speech, dexterity, strength, or reach to determine:
a. How users with disabilities will perform the functions supported by the ICT; and
b. How the ICT will be installed, configured, and maintained to support users with disabilities.
E204.1 General.
Where the requirements in Chapters 4 and 5 do not address one or more features of ICT, the features not addressed shall conform to the Functional Performance Criteria specified in Chapter 3.
E205.1 General.
Content shall comply with E205.
E205.2 Public Facing.
Content that is public facing shall conform to the accessibility requirements specified in E205.4.
E205.3 Agency Official Communication.
Content that is not public facing shall conform to the accessibility requirements specified in E205.4 when such content constitutes official business, and is communicated by an agency through one or more of the following:
1. An emergency notification;
2. An initial or final decision adjudicating an administrative claim or proceeding;
3. An internal or external program or policy announcement;
4. A notice of benefits, program eligibility, employment opportunity, or personnel action;
5. A formal acknowledgement or receipt;
6. A questionnaire or survey;
7. A template or form; or
8. Educational or training materials.
EXCEPTION: Records maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) pursuant to federal recordkeeping statutes shall not be required to conform to the 508 Standards unless public facing.
E205.4 Accessibility Standards.
Content shall conform to Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements specified for Web pages in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1) or, where applicable, ISO 14289-1 (PDF/UA-1) (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
E206.1 General.
Where components of ICT are hardware and transmit information or have a user interface, such components shall conform to applicable requirements in Chapter 4.
E207.1 General.
Where components of ICT are software and transmit information or have a user interface, such components shall conform to E207 and applicable requirements in Chapter 5.
E207.2 WCAG Conformance.
User interface components, as well as the content of platforms and applications, shall conform to Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements specified for Web pages in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
E208.1 General.
Where an agency provides support documentation or services for ICT, such documentation and services shall conform to the requirements in Chapter 6.
C101.1 Purpose.
These 255 Guidelines, which consist of 255 Chapters 1 and 2 (Appendix B), along with Chapters 3 through 6 (Appendix C), contain scoping and technical requirements for the design, development, and fabrication of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment, and related software, content, and support documentation and services, to ensure their accessibility to and usability by individuals with disabilities. These 255 Guidelines are to be applied to the extent required by regulations issued by the Federal Communications Commission under Section 255 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (47 U.S.C. 255).
C101.2 Equivalent Facilitation.
The use of an alternative design or technology that results in substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities than would be provided by conformance to one or more of the requirements in Chapters 4 and 5 of the 255 Guidelines is permitted. The functional performance criteria in Chapter 3 shall be used to determine whether substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability is provided to individuals with disabilities.
C101.3 Conventional Industry Tolerances.
Dimensions are subject to conventional industry tolerances except where dimensions are stated as a range.
C101.4 Units of Measurement.
Measurements are stated in metric and U.S. customary units. The values stated in each system (metric and U.S. customary units) may not be exact equivalents, and each system shall be used independently of the other.
C102.1 Incorporation by Reference.
The specific editions of the standards and guidelines listed in C102 are incorporated by reference in the 255 Guidelines and are part of the requirements to the prescribed extent of each such reference. Where conflicts occur between the 255 Guidelines and the referenced standards, these guidelines apply. The Director of the Office of Federal Register has approved the standards for incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of the referenced standards may be inspected at the Access Board’s office, 1331 F Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004.
C102.2 American National Standards Institute/ Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (ANSI/HFES).
Copies of the referenced standard may be obtained from Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, P.O. Box 1369, Santa Monica, CA 90406-1369 (http://www.hfes.org/Publications/ProductDetail.aspx?Id=76).
ANSI/HFES 200.2 Human Factors Engineering of Software User Interfaces — Part 2: Accessibility, (2008), IBR proposed for Section 502.4.
C102.3 American National Standards Institute/ Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (ANSI/IEEE).
Copies of the referenced standard may be obtained from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 10662 Los Vaqueros Circle, P.O. Box 3014, Los Alamitos, CA 90720-1264 (http://www.ieee.org).
ANSI/IEEE C63.19-2011 American National Standard for Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids, Committee C63 – Electromagnetic Compatibility, May 27, 2011, IBR proposed for Section 410.4.1.
C102.4 Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC).
Copies of the referenced standard may be obtained from the Advanced Television Systems Committee, 1776 K Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006-2304 (http://www.atsc.org).
A/53 Digital Television Standard, Part 5: AC-3 Audio System Characteristics, (2010), IBR proposed for Section 412.1.1.
C102.5 IETF.
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Copies of the referenced standard may be obtained from the Internet Engineering Task Force (http://www.ietf.org).
Request for Comments (RFC) 4103, Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) Payload for Text Conversation (2005), G. Hellstrom, Omnitor AB, and P. Jones, Cisco Systems, IBR proposed for Section 410.6.3.2.
C102.6 International Standards Organization (ISO).
Copies of the referenced standards, may be obtained from International Organization for Standardization, ISO Central Secretariat, 1, ch. de la Voie-Creuse, CP 56 - CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland (http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=54564).
ISO 14289-1 Document management applications — Electronic document file format enhancement for accessibility — Part 1: Use of ISO 32000-1 (PDF/UA-1), Technical Committee ISO/TC 171, Document Management Applications, Subcommittee SC 2, Application Issues, (2014), IBR proposed for Sections E205.1 and 602.3.1.
C102.7 International Telecommunications Union Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T).
Copies of the referenced standards may be obtained from the International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunications Standardization Sector, Place des Nations CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland (http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T).
C102.7.1 ITU-T Recommendation G.722.
General Aspects of Digital Transmission Systems, Terminal Components, 7 kHz Audio-Coding within 64 Kbits/s, (September 2012), IBR proposed for Section 410.5.
C102.7.2 ITU-T Recommendation E.161.
Arrangement of digits, letters and symbols on telephones and other devices that can be used for gaining access to a telephone network, ITU – T Study Group 2, (February 2001), IBR proposed for Section 407.3.2.
C102.8 Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).
Copies of the referenced standards, published by the Telecommunications Industry Association, may be obtained from IHS, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, CO 80112 (http://global.ihs.com).
A Frequency Shift Keyed Modem for Use on the Public Switched Telephone Network, (2003), IBR proposed for Section 410.6.3.1.
Telephone Terminal Equipment Handset Magnetic Measurement Procedures and Performance Requirements, (March 2007), IBR proposed for Section 410.4.2.
C102.9 Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C).
Copies of the referenced guidelines may be obtained from the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Room 32-G515, Cambridge, MA 02139 (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20).
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, W3C Recommendation, December 2008, IBR proposed for Sections E205.1, E207.2, 405.1 Exception, 501.1 Exception 1, 504.2, 504.3, 504.4, and 602.3.1.
C103.1 Terms Defined in Referenced Standards.
Terms defined in referenced standards and not defined in C103.4 shall have the meaning as defined in the referenced standards.
C103.2 Undefined Terms.
Any term not defined in C103.4 or in referenced standards shall be given its ordinarily accepted meaning in the sense that the context implies.
C103.3 Interchangeability.
Words, terms, and phrases used in the singular include the plural and those used in the plural include the singular.
C103.4 Defined Terms.
For the purpose of the 255 Guidelines, the terms defined in C103.4 have the indicated meaning.
The guidelines for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment covered by Section 255 of the Communications Act as set forth in 255 Chapters 1 and 2 (36 CFR Part 1194, Appendix B), and Chapters 3 through 6 (36 CFR Part 1193, Appendix C).
Software designed to perform, or to help the user perform, a specific task or tasks.
Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
Narration added to the soundtrack to describe important visual details that cannot be understood from the main soundtrack alone. Audio description is a means to inform individuals who are blind or who have low vision about visual content essential for comprehension. Audio description of video provides information about actions, characters, scene changes, on-screen text, and other visual content. Audio description supplements the regular audio track of a program. Audio description is usually added during existing pauses in dialogue. Audio description is also called “video description” and “descriptive narration.”
Any software, or collection of software components, that can be used by authors, alone or collaboratively, to create or modify content for use by others, including other authors.
Characteristics that limit functionality or prevent a user from attaching or installing assistive technology. Examples of ICT with closed functionality are self-service machines, information kiosks, set-top boxes, fax machines, calculators, and computers that are locked down so that users may not adjust settings due to a policy such as Desktop Core Configuration.
Electronic information and data, as well as the encoding that defines its structure, presentation, and interactions.
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE).
Equipment used on the premises of a person (other than a carrier) to originate, route, or terminate telecommunications or interconnected VoIP service. Examples of CPE are telephones, routers, switches, residential gateways, set-top boxes, fixed mobile convergence products, home networking adaptors and Internet access gateways which enable consumers to access communications service providers’ services and distribute them around their house via a Local Access Network (LAN).
A tangible device, equipment, or physical component of ICT, such as telephones, computers, multifunction copy machines, and keyboards.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Information technology and other equipment, systems, technologies, or processes, for which the principal function is the creation, manipulation, storage, display, receipt, or transmission of electronic data and information, as well as any associated content. Examples of ICT include, but are not limited to: computers and peripheral equipment; information kiosks and transaction machines; telecommunications equipment; customer premises equipment; multifunction office machines; software; applications; websites; videos; and, electronic documents.
A set of systematically arranged alphanumeric keys or a control that generates alphanumeric input by which a machine or device is operated. A keyboard includes tactilely discernible keys used in conjunction with the alphanumeric keys if their function maps to keys on the keyboard interfaces.
Text, or a component with a text alternative, that is presented to a user to identify content. A label is presented to all users, whereas a name may be hidden and only exposed by assistive technology. In many cases, the name and the label are the same.
A set of selectable options.
Text by which software can identify a component to the user. A name may be hidden and only exposed by assistive technology, whereas a label is presented to all users. In many cases, the label and the name are the same. Name is unrelated to the name attribute in HTML.
A component of ICT used to activate, deactivate, or adjust the ICT.
Platform Accessibility Services.
Services provided by a platform enabling interoperability with assistive technology. Examples are Application Programming Interfaces (API) and the Document Object Model (DOM).
Software that interacts with hardware, or provides services for other software. Platform software may run or host other software, and may isolate them from underlying software or hardware layers. A single software component may have both platform and non-platform aspects. Examples of platforms are: desktop operating systems; embedded operating systems, including mobile systems; Web browsers; plug-ins to Web browsers that render a particular media or format; and sets of components that allow other applications to execute, such as applications which support macros or scripting.
Programmatically Determinable.
Ability to be determined by software from author-supplied data that is provided in a way that different user agents, including assistive technologies, can extract and present the information to users in different modalities.
Communications using the transmission of text by which characters are transmitted by a terminal as they are typed. Real-time text is used for conversational purposes. Real-time text also may be used in voicemail, interactive voice response systems, and other similar applications.
Programs, procedures, rules and related data and documentation that direct the use and operation of ICT and instruct it to perform a given task or function.
Specialized Customer Premises Equipment.
Assistive technology used by individuals with disabilities to originate, route, or terminate telecommunications or interconnected VoIP service. Examples are TTYs and amplified telephones.
The signal transmission between or among points specified by the user of information and of the user’s choosing without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.
Equipment, other than customer premises equipment, used by a carrier to provide telecommunications services, and includes software integral to such equipment (including upgrades).
Telecommunications Equipment Manufacturer.
A manufacturer of ICT that is telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment.
Device or software with which the end user directly interacts and that provides the user interface. For some systems, the software that provides the user interface may reside on more than one device such as a telephone and a server.
A sequence of characters that can be programmatically determined and that expresses something in human language.
Equipment that enables interactive text based communications through the transmission of frequency-shift-keying audio tones across the public switched telephone network. TTYs include devices for real-time text communications and voice and text intermixed communications. Examples of intermixed communications are voice carry over and hearing carry over. One example of a TTY is a computer with TTY emulating software and modem.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
A technology that provides real-time voice communications. VoIP requires a broadband connection from the user’s location and customer premises equipment compatible with Internet protocol.
C201.1 Scope.
Manufacturers of telecommunications equipment shall comply with the requirements in the 255 Guidelines applicable to such equipment when newly released, upgraded, or substantially changed from an earlier version or model. Manufacturers of telecommunications equipment shall also conform to the requirements in the 255 Guidelines for software, content, and support documentation and services where associated with the use of such equipment.
Advisory C201.1 Scope. Existing telecommunications equipment that undergoes minor changes that do not affect functionality is not required to conform to the provisions of these guidelines.
C201.2 Readily Achievable.
When a telecommunications equipment manufacturer determines that conformance to one or more requirements in Chapter 4 (Hardware) or Chapter 5 (Software) would not be readily achievable, it shall ensure that the equipment or software is compatible with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to the extent readily achievable.
In determining whether compliance is readily achievable, telecommunications manufacturers should consider the following factors: the nature and cost of the action needed to provide accessibility or compatibility; the overall resources of the telecommunications manufacturer, including financial resources, technical expertise, component supply sources, equipment, or personnel; the overall financial resources of any parent corporation or entity, to the extent such resources are available to the telecommunications manufacturer; and, whether the accessibility solution results in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the product.
C201.3 Access to Functionality.
Telecommunications equipment manufacturers shall ensure that ICT is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities by providing direct access to all functionality of ICT. Where telecommunications equipment manufacturers can demonstrate that it is not readily achievable for ICT to provide direct access to all functionality, ICT shall support the use of assistive technology and specialized customer premises equipment where readily achievable.
C201.4 Prohibited Reduction of Accessibility, Usability, and Compatibility.
No change shall be undertaken that decreases, or has the effect of decreasing, the net accessibility, usability, or compatibility of ICT.
EXCEPTION: Discontinuation of a product shall not be prohibited.
C201.5 Design, Development, and Fabrication.
Telecommunications equipment manufacturers shall evaluate the accessibility, usability, and interoperability of ICT during its product design, development, and fabrication.
C202.1 General.
Where the requirements in Chapters 4 and 5 do not address one or more features of ICT, the features not addressed shall conform to the Functional Performance Criteria specified in Chapter 3.
C203.1 General.
Regardless of the medium or the method of transmission and storage, electronic content integral to the use of ICT shall conform to Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements specified for Web pages in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1) or ISO 14289-1 (PDF/UA-1) (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
C204.1 General.
Where components of ICT are hardware, and transmit information or have a user interface, those components shall conform to applicable requirements in Chapter 4.
EXCEPTION: Components of ICT shall not be required to conform to 402, 407.11, 407.12, 408, and 409.
C205.1 General.
Where components of ICT are software and transmit information or have a user interface, those components shall conform to C205 and applicable requirements in Chapter 5.
C205.2 WCAG Conformance.
User interface components and content of platforms and applications shall conform to Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements specified for Web pages in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
C206.1 General.
Where support documentation and services are provided for ICT, telecommunications equipment manufacturers shall provide such documentation and services in conformance with Chapter 6, upon request and at no additional charge.
301.1 Scope.
The requirements of Chapter 3 shall apply to ICT where required by 508 Chapter 2 (Scoping Requirements), 255 Chapter 2 (Scoping Requirements), and where otherwise referenced in any other chapter of the 508 Standards or 255 Guidelines.
302.1 Without Vision.
Where a visual mode of operation is provided, ICT shall provide at least one mode of operation that does not require user vision.
302.2 With Limited Vision.
Where a visual mode of operation is provided, ICT shall provide at least one mode of operation that magnifies, one mode that reduces the field of vision required, and one mode that allows user control of contrast.
302.3 Without Perception of Color.
Where a visual mode of operation is provided, ICT shall provide at least one mode of operation that does not require user perception of color.
302.4 Without Hearing.
Where an auditory mode of operation is provided, ICT shall provide at least one mode of operation that does not require user hearing.
302.5 With Limited Hearing.
Where an auditory mode of operation is provided, ICT shall provide at least one mode of operation that improves clarity, one mode that reduces background noise, and one mode that allows user control of volume.
302.6 Without Speech.
Where a spoken mode of operation is provided, ICT shall provide at least one mode of operation that does not require user speech.
302.7 With Limited Manipulation.
Where a manual mode of operation is provided, ICT shall provide at least one mode of operation that does not require fine motor control or operation of more than one control at the same time.
302.8 With Limited Reach and Strength.
Where a manual mode of operation is provided, ICT shall provide at least one mode of operation that is operable with limited reach and limited strength.
401.1 Scope.
The requirements of Chapter 4 shall apply to ICT that is hardware where required by 508 Chapter 2 (Scoping Requirements), 255 Chapter 2 (Scoping Requirements), and where otherwise referenced in any other chapter of the 508 Standards or 255 Guidelines.
EXCEPTION: Hardware that is assistive technology shall not be required to conform to the requirements of this chapter.
402.1 General.
Except for personal headsets and other audio couplers, closed functionality of ICT shall be operable without requiring the user to attach or install assistive technology and shall conform to 402.
402.2 Speech-Output Enabled.
ICT with a display screen shall be speech-output enabled. Operating instructions and orientation, visible transaction prompts, user input verification, error messages, and all displayed information for full use shall be accessible to, and independently usable by, individuals with vision impairments. Speech output shall be delivered through a mechanism that is readily available to all users, including, but not limited to, an industry standard connector or a telephone handset. Speech shall be recorded or digitized human, or synthesized. Speech output shall be coordinated with information displayed on the screen.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. Audible tones shall be permitted instead of speech where the content of user input is not displayed as entered for security purposes, including, but not limited to, asterisks representing personal identification numbers.
2. Advertisements and other similar information shall not be required to be audible unless conveying information necessary for the transaction being conducted.
Speech output for any single function shall be automatically interrupted when a transaction is selected. Speech output shall be capable of being repeated and paused.
Where speech output is required by 402.2, braille instructions for initiating the speech mode of operation shall be provided. Braille shall conform to 36 CFR Part 1191, Appendix D, Section 703.3.
402.3 Volume.
ICT that delivers sound, including speech required by 402.2, shall provide volume control and output amplification conforming to 402.3.
EXCEPTION: ICT conforming to 410.2 shall not be required to conform to 402.3.
Where ICT provides private listening, it shall provide a mode of operation for controlling the volume and a means for effective magnetic wireless coupling to hearing technologies.
402.3.2 Non-private Listening.
Where ICT provides non-private listening, incremental volume control shall be provided with output amplification up to a level of at least 65 dB. Where the ambient noise level of the environment is above 45 dB, a volume gain of at least 20 dB above the ambient level shall be user selectable. A function shall be provided to automatically reset the volume to the default level after every use.
402.4 Characters.
At least one mode of characters displayed on the screen shall be in a sans serif font. Where ICT does not provide a screen enlargement feature, characters shall be 3/16 inch (4.8 mm) high minimum based on the uppercase letter “I”. Characters shall contrast with their background with either light characters on a dark background or dark characters on a light background.
403.1 General.
Biometrics shall not be the only means for user identification or control.
EXCEPTION: Where at least two biometric options that use different biological characteristics are provided, ICT shall be permitted to use biometrics as the only means for user identification or control.
404.1 General.
ICT that transmits or converts information or communication shall not remove non-proprietary information provided for accessibility or shall restore it upon delivery.
405.1 General.
Where ICT emits lights in flashes, there shall be no more than three flashes in any one-second period.
EXCEPTION: Flashes that do not exceed the general flash and red flash thresholds defined in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1) are not required to conform to 405.
406.1 General.
Where data connections used for input and output are provided, at least one of each type of connection shall conform to industry standard non-proprietary formats.
407.1 General.
Where provided, operable parts of ICT shall conform to 407.
407.2 Contrast.
Where provided, keys and controls shall contrast visually from background surfaces. Characters and symbols shall contrast visually from background surfaces with either light characters or symbols on a dark background or dark characters or symbols on a light background.
407.3 Tactilely Discernible.
At least one tactilely discernible input control shall be provided for each function and shall conform to 407.3.
EXCEPTION: Devices for personal use with input controls that are audibly discernable without activation and operable by touch shall not be required to be tactilely discernible.
Input controls shall be tactilely discernible without activation and operable by touch. Where provided, key surfaces outside active areas of the display screen shall be raised above surrounding surfaces.
Where provided, individual alphabetic keys shall be arranged in a QWERTY keyboard layout and the “F” and “J” keys shall be tactilely distinct from the other keys. Where the ICT provides an alphabetic overlay on numeric keys, the relationships between letters and digits shall conform to ITU-T Recommendation E.161 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
Where provided, numeric keys shall be arranged in a 12-key ascending or descending keypad layout. The number five key shall be tactilely distinct from the other keys.
407.4 Key Repeat.
Where a keyboard with key repeat is provided, the delay before the key repeat feature is activated shall be fixed at, or adjustable to, 2 seconds minimum.
407.5 Timed Response.
Where a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted visually, as well as by touch or sound, and shall be given the opportunity to indicate that more time is needed.
407.6 Status Indicators.
Status indicators, including all locking or toggle controls or keys (e.g., Caps Lock and Num Lock keys), shall be discernible visually and by touch or sound.
407.7 Color.
Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.
407.8 Audio Signaling.
Audio signaling shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, or prompting a response.
407.9 Operation.
At least one mode of operation shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate operable parts shall be 5 pounds (22.2 N) maximum.
407.10 Privacy.
The same degree of privacy of input and output shall be provided to all individuals. When speech output required by 402.2 is enabled, the screen shall not blank automatically.
407.11 Keys, Tickets, and Fare Cards.
Where keys, tickets, or fare cards are provided, keys, tickets, and fare cards shall have an orientation that is tactilely discernible if orientation is important to further use of the key, ticket, or fare card.
407.12 Reach Height.
At least one of each type of operable part of stationary ICT shall be at a height conforming to 407.12.2 or 407.12.3 according to its position established in 407.12.1 for a side reach or a forward reach.
407.12.1 Vertical Reference Plane.
Operable parts shall be positioned for a side reach or a forward reach determined with respect to a vertical reference plane. The vertical reference plane shall be located in conformance to 407.12.2 or 407.12.3.
407.12.1.1 Vertical Plane for Side Reach.
Where a side reach is provided, the vertical reference plane shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) long minimum.
407.12.1.2 Vertical Plane for Forward Reach.
Where a forward reach is provided, the vertical reference plane shall be 30 inches (760 mm) long minimum.
Figure 407.12.1
Operable parts of ICT providing a side reach shall conform to 407.12.2.1 or 407.12.2.2. The vertical reference plane shall be centered on the operable part and placed at the leading edge of the maximum protrusion of the ICT within the length of the vertical reference plane. Where a side reach requires a reach over a portion of the ICT, the height of that portion of the ICT shall be 34 inches (865 mm) maximum.
407.12.2.1 Unobstructed Side Reach.
Where the operable part is located 10 inches (255 mm) or less beyond the vertical reference plane, the operable part shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) high maximum and 15 inches (380 mm) high minimum above the floor.
Figure 407.12.2.1
407.12.2.2 Obstructed Side Reach.
Where the operable part is located more than 10 inches (255 mm), but not more than 24 inches (610 mm), beyond the vertical reference plane, the height of the operable part shall be 46 inches (1170 mm) high maximum and 15 inches (380 mm) high minimum above the floor. The operable part shall not be located more than 24 inches (610 mm) beyond the vertical reference plane.
Figure 407.12.2.2
Operable parts of ICT providing a forward reach shall conform to 407.12.3.1 or 407.12.3.2. The vertical reference plane shall be centered, and intersect with, the operable part. Where a forward reach allows a reach over a portion of the ICT, the height of that portion of the ICT shall be 34 inches (865 mm) maximum.
407.12.3.1 Unobstructed Forward Reach.
Where the operable part is located at the leading edge of the maximum protrusion within the length of the vertical reference plane of the ICT, the operable part shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) high maximum and 15 inches (380 mm) high minimum above the floor.
Figure 407.12.3.1
407.12.3.2 Obstructed Forward Reach.
Where the operable part is located beyond the leading edge of the maximum protrusion within the length of the vertical reference plane, the operable part shall conform to 407.12.3.2. The maximum allowable forward reach to an operable part shall be 25 inches (635 mm).
Figure 407.12.3.2
The height of the operable part shall conform to Table 407.12.3.2.1.
Table 407.12.3.2.1 Operable Part Height
[Click image above to view HTML version]
Figure 407.12.3.2.1
407.12.3.2.2 Knee and Toe Space.
Knee and toe space under ICT shall be 27 inches (685 mm) high minimum, 25 inches (635 mm) deep maximum, and 30 inches (760 mm) wide minimum and shall be clear of obstructions.
EXCEPTIONS:1. Toe space shall be permitted to provide a clear height of 9 inches (230 mm) minimum above the floor and a clear depth of 6 inches (150 mm) maximum from the vertical reference plane toward the leading edge of the ICT.
2. At a depth of 6 inches (150 mm) maximum from the vertical reference plane toward the leading edge of the ICT, space between 9 inches (230 mm) and 27 inches (685 mm) minimum above the floor shall be permitted to reduce at a rate of 1 inch (25 mm) in depth for every 6 inches (150 mm) in height.
Figure 407.12.3.2.2
Figure 407.12.3.2.2 Exception 1
Figure 407.12.3.2.2 Exception 2
Figure 407.12.3.2.2 with both Exceptions applied
408.1 General.
Where stationary ICT provides one or more display screens, at least one of each type of display screen shall be visible from a point located 40 inches (1015 mm) above the floor space where the display screen is viewed.
409.1 General.
Where transactional outputs are provided by ICT with speech output, the speech output shall audibly provide all information necessary to complete or verify a transaction.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. Machine location, date and time of transaction, customer account number, and the machine identifier shall not be required to be audible.
2. Duplicative information shall not be required to be repeated where such information has already been presented audibly.
3. Itineraries, maps, checks, and other visual images shall not be required to be audible.
410.1 General.
ICT that provides two-way voice communication shall conform to 410.
410.2 Volume Gain.
Volume gain shall be provided and shall conform to 47 CFR 68.317.
410.3 Magnetic Coupling.
Where ICT delivers output by an audio transducer that is typically held up to the ear, ICT shall provide a means for effective magnetic wireless coupling to hearing technologies, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening devices.
410.4 Minimize Interference.
ICT shall reduce interference with hearing technologies to the lowest possible level and shall conform to 410.4.
ICT in the form of wireless handsets shall conform to ANSI/IEEE C63.19-2011 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
ICT in the form of digital wireline devices shall conform to TIA 1083 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
410.5 Digital Encoding of Speech.
ICT shall transmit and receive speech that is digitally encoded in the manner specified by ITU-T Recommendation G.722 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1) for encoding and storing audio information.
EXCEPTION: Where ICT is a closed system, conformance to standards other than ITU-T Recommendation G.722 shall be permitted where equivalent or better acoustic performance is provided and where conversion to ITU-T Recommendation G.722 at the borders of the closed system is supported.
410.6 Real-Time Text Functionality.
Where ICT provides real-time voice communication, ICT shall support real-time text functionality and shall conform to 410.6.
410.6.1 Display of Real-Time Text.
Where provided, multi-line displays shall be compatible with real-time text systems used on the network.
Where provided, features capable of text generation shall be compatible with real-time text systems used on the network.
Where ICT interoperates outside of a closed system of which it is a part, or where ICT connects to other systems, ICT shall conform to 410.6.3.1 or 410.6.3.2.
Where ICT interoperates with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), real-time text shall conform to TIA 825-A (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
Where ICT interoperates with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) products or systems using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), real-time text shall conform to RFC 4103 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
410.6.4 Voice Mail, Auto-Attendant, and IVR Compatibility.
Where provided, voice mail, auto-attendant, and interactive voice response telecommunications systems shall be compatible with real-time text that conforms to 410.6.3.
Real-time voice communication shall permit users to intermix speech with the use of real-time text and shall support modes that are compatible with Hearing Carry Over (HCO) and Voice Carry Over (VCO).
410.7 Caller ID.
Where provided, caller identification and similar telecommunications functions shall be visible and audible.
410.8 Video Communication.
Where ICT provides real-time video functionality, the quality of the video shall be sufficient to support communication using sign language.
411.1 General.
Where ICT displays or processes video with synchronized audio, ICT shall conform to 411.1.1 or 411.1.2.
411.1.1 Decoding of Closed Captions.
Players and displays shall decode closed caption data and support display of captions.
411.1.2 Pass-Through of Closed Caption Data.
Cabling and ancillary equipment shall pass through caption data.
412.1 General.
Where ICT displays or processes video with synchronized audio, ICT shall provide a mode of operation that plays associated audio description.
412.1.1 Digital Television Tuners.
Where audio description is played through digital television tuners, the tuners shall conform to ATSC A/53 Digital Television Standard, Part 5 (2010) (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1). Digital television tuners shall provide processing of audio description when encoded as a Visually Impaired (VI) associated audio service that is provided as a complete program mix containing audio description according to the ATSC A/53 standard.
413.1 General.
Where ICT displays video with synchronized audio, ICT shall provide user controls for closed captions and audio description conforming to 413.1.
EXCEPTION: Devices for personal use where closed captions and audio description can be enabled through system-wide platform settings shall not be required to conform to 413.1.
ICT shall provide user controls for the selection of captions in at least one location that is comparable in prominence to the location of the user controls for volume.
413.1.2 Audio Description Controls.
ICT shall provide user controls for the selection of audio description in at least one location that is comparable in prominence to the location of the user controls for program selection.
501.1 Scope.
The requirements of Chapter 5 shall apply to ICT software and applications where required by 508 Chapter 2 (Scoping Requirements), 255 Chapter 2 (Scoping Requirements), and where otherwise referenced in any other chapter of the 508 Standards or 255 Guidelines.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. Web applications that conform to all Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and all Conformance Requirements in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1) shall not be required to conform to 502 and 503.
2. Software that is assistive technology and that supports the accessibility services of the platform shall not be required to conform to the requirements in this chapter.
502.1 General.
Platforms, software tools provided by the platform developer, and applications, shall conform to 502.
EXCEPTION: Platforms and applications that have closed functionality and that conform to 402 shall not be required to conform to 502.
502.2 Documented Accessibility Features.
Platforms and applications shall conform to 502.2.
502.2.1 User Control of Accessibility Features.
Platforms shall provide user control over platform features that are defined in the platform documentation as accessibility features.
502.2.2 No Disruption of Accessibility Features.
Applications shall not disrupt platform features that are defined in the platform documentation as accessibility features.
502.3 Accessibility Services.
Platforms and software tools provided by the platform developer shall provide a documented set of accessibility services that support applications running on the platform to interoperate withassistive technology and shall conform to 502.3. Applications that are also platforms shall expose the underlying platform accessibility services or implement other documented accessibility services.
The object role, state(s), boundary, name, and description shall be programmatically determinable. States that can be set by the user shall be capable of being set programmatically, including through assistive technology.
502.3.2 Row, Column, and Headers.
If an object is in a table, the occupied rows and columns, and any headers associated with those rows or columns, shall be programmatically determinable.
Any current value(s), and any set or range of allowable values associated with an object, shall be programmatically determinable. Values that can be set by the user shall be capable of being set programmatically, including through assistive technology.
Any relationship that a component has as a label for another component, or of being labeled by another component, shall be programmatically determinable.
502.3.5 Hierarchical Relationships.
Any hierarchical (parent-child) relationship that a component has as a container for, or being contained by, another component shall be programmatically determinable.
The content of text objects, text attributes, and the boundary of text rendered to the screen, shall be programmatically determinable. Text that can be set by the user shall be capable of being set programmatically, including through assistive technology.
A list of all actions that can be executed on an object shall be programmatically determinable. Applications shall allow assistive technology to programmatically execute available actions on objects.
Applications shall expose information and mechanisms necessary to track and modify focus, text insertion point, and selection attributes of user interface components.
Notification of events relevant to user interactions, including but not limited to, changes in the component’s state(s), value, name, description, or boundary, shall be available to assistive technology.
502.4 Platform Accessibility Features.
Platforms and platform software shall conform to the requirements in ANSI/HFES 200.2, Human Factors Engineering of Software User Interfaces — Part 2: Accessibility (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1) listed below:
1. Section 9.3.3 Enable sequential entry of multiple (chorded) keystrokes.
2. Section 9.3.4 Provide adjustment of delay before key acceptance.
3. Section 9.3.5 Provide adjustment of same-key double-strike acceptance.
4. Section 10.6.7 Allow users to choose visual alternative for audio output.
5. Section 10.6.8 Synchronize audio equivalents for visual events.
6. Section 10.6.9 Provide speech output services.
7. Section 10.7.1 Display any captions provided.
503.1 General.
Applications shall conform to 503.
503.2 User Preferences.
Applications shall permit user preferences from platform settings for color, contrast, font type, font size, and focus cursor.
EXCEPTION: Applications that are designed to be isolated from their underlying platforms, including Web applications, shall not be required to conform to 503.2.
503.3 Alternative User Interfaces.
Where an application provides an alternative user interface that functions as assistive technology, the application shall use platform and other industry standard accessibility services.
503.4 User Controls for Captions and Audio Description.
Where ICT displays video with synchronized audio, ICT shall provide user controls for closed captions and audio description conforming to 503.4.
Where user controls are provided for volume adjustment, ICT shall provide user controls for the selection of captions at the same menu level as the user controls for volume or program selection.
503.4.2 Audio Description Controls.
Where user controls are provided for program selection, ICT shall provide user controls for the selection of audio description at the same menu level as the user controls for volume or program selection.
504.1 General.
Where an application is an authoring tool, the application shall conform to 504 to the extent that information required for accessibility is supported by the destination format.
504.2 Content Creation or Editing.
Authoring tools shall provide a mode of operation to create or edit content that conforms to all Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and all Conformance Requirements in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1) for all features and formats supported by the authoring tool. Authoring tools shall permit authors the option of overriding information required for accessibility.
EXCEPTION: Authoring tools shall not be required to conform to 504.2 when used to directly edit plain text source code.
504.2.1 Preservation of Information Provided for Accessibility in Format Conversion.
Authoring tools shall, when converting content from one format to another or saving content in multiple formats, preserve the information required for accessibility to the extent that the information is supported by the destination format.
504.3 Prompts.
Authoring tools shall provide a mode of operation that prompts authors to create content that conforms to all Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and all Conformance Requirements in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1). Authoring tools shall provide the option for prompts during initial content creation or when the content is saved.
504.4 Templates.
Where templates are provided, templates allowing content creation that conforms to all Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and all Conformance Requirements in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1) shall be provided for a range of template uses.
601.1 Scope.
The technical requirements in Chapter 6 shall apply to ICT support documentation and services where required by 508 Chapter 2 (Scoping Requirements), 255 Chapter 2 (Scoping Requirements), and where otherwise referenced in any other chapter of the 508 Standards or 255 Guidelines.
602.1 General.
Documentation that supports the use of ICT shall conform to 602.
602.2 Accessibility and Compatibility Features.
Documentation shall list and explain how to use the accessibility and compatibility features required by Chapters 4 and 5. Documentation shall include accessibility features that are built-in and accessibility features that provide compatibility with assistive technology.
Where ICT components are designed to be part of an integrated system, this provision requires that the documentation explains how to configure the system to support accessibility. For example, the documentation for a DVD player and multimedia projector is required to explain how to configure the DVD player and projector to support the display of closed captions.
602.3 Electronic Support Documentation.
Documentation in electronic format, including Web-based self-service support, shall conform to all Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and all Conformance Requirements in WCAG 2.0 (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1), or ISO 14289-1 (PDF/UA-1) (incorporated by reference in Chapter 1).
602.4 Alternate Formats for Non-electronic Support Documentation.
Alternate formats usable by individuals who are blind or have low vision shall be provided upon request for support documentation in non-electronic formats.
603.1 General.
ICT support services including, but not limited to, help desks, call centers, training services, and automated self-service technical support, shall conform to 603.
603.2 Information on Accessibility and Compatibility Features.
ICT support services shall include information on the accessibility and compatibility features required by 602.2.
603.3 Accommodation of Communication Needs.
Support services shall be provided directly to the user or through a referral to a point of contact. Such ICT support services shall accommodate the communication needs of individuals with disabilities.
A best practice is for help desk and other ICT support services to use a variety of communication technologies. Examples of such communication technologies include Internet posting (such as message boards and website blogs), telephones, email, fax, postal mail, texting, and instant messaging.
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