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

C201.5 Design, Development and Fabrication (Section-by-Section Analysis)

This section proposes a general requirement that telecommunications equipment manufacturers evaluate the accessibility, usability, and interoperability of covered ICT during its design, development, and fabrication. This provision is largely based on § 1193.23(a) of the existing 255 Guidelines. We have not, however, retained § 1193.23(b) of the existing 255 Guidelines, which requires telecommunications equipment manufacturers to consider involving people with disabilities in various aspects of product design and development. We do not include this provision in the proposed 255 Guidelines because it is non-mandatory, advisory material only.