36 CFR Part 1194 - Proposed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines NPRM - Preamble

407.8 Audio Signaling (Section-by-Section Analysis)

This section proposes to prohibit audio signaling from being the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, or prompting a response. For example, when a landline telephones provides a stutter tone to indicate a voice mail message, such a tone is typically accompanied by an activated light on the phone. This proposal closely parallels the prohibition in existing 508 Standards § 1194.25(g) against use of color as the only means of conveying information. The section is intended to address the needs of individuals with hearing impairments in the same way that proposed 407.7 addresses the needs of persons who have color blindness. Although an express prohibition on audio signaling would be new to the 508 Standards and 255 Guidelines, such a prohibition is implied by the existing functional performance criteria (508 Standards § 1194.31(c)), and represents current industry practice. This proposed provision should not, therefore, result in any significant cost increase.