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47 U.S.C. § 617 — Access to advanced communications services and equipment
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Manufacturing**
(1) **In general** — With respect to equipment manufactured after the effective date of the regulations established pursuant to subsection (e), and subject to those regulations, a manufacturer of equipment used for advanced communications services, including end user equipment, network equipment, and software, shall ensure that the equipment and software that such manufacturer offers for sale or otherwise distributes in interstate commerce shall be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, unless the requirements of this subsection are not achievable.
(2) **Industry flexibility** — A manufacturer of equipment may satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) with respect to such equipment by—
(A) ensuring that the equipment that such manufacturer offers is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities without the use of third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment; or
(B) if such manufacturer chooses, using third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment that is available to the consumer at nominal cost and that individuals with disabilities can access.
**(b) Service providers**
(1) **In general** — With respect to services provided after the effective date of the regulations established pursuant to subsection (e), and subject to those regulations, a provider of advanced communications services shall ensure that such services offered by such provider in or affecting interstate commerce are accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, unless the requirements of this subsection are not achievable.
(2) **Industry flexibility** — A provider of services may satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) with r
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-47/section-617-access-to-advanced-communications-services-and-equipment--7ebcf21cef.md
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Source location: Title 47, Chapter 5, § 617; chapter-005-wire-or-radio-communication.md
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**(a) Manufacturing**
(1) **In general** — With respect to equipment manufactured after the effective date of the regulations established pursuant to subsection (e), and subject to those regulations, a manufacturer of equipment used for advanced communications services, including end user equipment, network equipment, and software, shall ensure that the equipment and software that such manufacturer offers for sale or otherwise distributes in interstate commerce shall be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, unless the requirements of this subsection are not achievable.
(2) **Industry flexibility** — A manufacturer of equipment may satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) with respect to such equipment by—
(A) ensuring that the equipment that such manufacturer offers is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities without the use of third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment; or
(B) if such manufacturer chooses, using third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment that is available to the consumer at nominal cost and that individuals with disabilities can access.
**(b) Service providers**
(1) **In general** — With respect to services provided after the effective date of the regulations established pursuant to subsection (e), and subject to those regulations, a provider of advanced communications services shall ensure that such services offered by such provider in or affecting interstate commerce are accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, unless the requirements of this subsection are not achievable.
(2) **Industry flexibility** — A provider of services may satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) with respect to such services by—
(A) ensuring that the services that such provider offers are accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities without the use of third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment; or
(B) if such provider chooses, using third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment that is available to the consumer at nominal cost and that individuals with disabilities can access.
**(c) Compatibility** Whenever the requirements of subsections 11 So in original. Probably should be “subsection”. (a) or (b) are not achievable, a manufacturer or provider shall ensure that its equipment or service is compatible with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, unless the requirement of this subsection is not achievable.
**(d) Network features, functions, and capabilities** Each provider of advanced communications services has the duty not to install network features, functions, or capabilities that impede accessibility or usability.
**(e) Regulations**
(1) **In general** — Within one year after October 8, 2010, the Commission shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to implement this section. In prescribing the regulations, the Commission shall—
(A) include performance objectives to ensure the accessibility, usability, and compatibility of advanced communications services and the equipment used for advanced communications services by individuals with disabilities;
(B) provide that advanced communications services, the equipment used for advanced communications services, and networks used to provide advanced communications services may not impair or impede the accessibility of information content when accessibility has been incorporated into that content for transmission through advanced communications services, equipment used for advanced communications services, or networks used to provide advanced communications services;
(C) determine the obligations under this section of manufacturers, service providers, and providers of applications or services accessed over service provider networks; and
(D) not mandate technical standards, except that the Commission may adopt technical standards as a safe harbor for such compliance if necessary to facilitate the manufacturers’ and service providers’ compliance with sections 22 So in original. Probably should be “subsections”. (a) through (c).
(2) **Prospective guidelines** — The Commission shall issue prospective guidelines for a manufacturer or provider regarding the requirements of this section.
**(f) Services and equipment subject to [section 255 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title47-section255&num=0&edition=prelim)** The requirements of this section shall not apply to any equipment or services, including interconnected VoIP service, that are subject to the requirements of [section 255 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title47-section255&num=0&edition=prelim) on the day before October 8, 2010. Such services and equipment shall remain subject to the requirements of [section 255 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title47-section255&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(g) Achievable defined** For purposes of this section and [section 619 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title47-section619&num=0&edition=prelim), the term “achievable” means with reasonable effort or expense, as determined by the Commission. In determining whether the requirements of a provision are achievable, the Commission shall consider the following factors:
(1) The nature and cost of the steps needed to meet the requirements of this section with respect to the specific equipment or service in question.
(2) The technical and economic impact on the operation of the manufacturer or provider and on the operation of the specific equipment or service in question, including on the development and deployment of new communications technologies.
(3) The type of operations of the manufacturer or provider.
(4) The extent to which the service provider or manufacturer in question offers accessible services or equipment containing varying degrees of functionality and features, and offered at differing price points.
**(h) Commission flexibility**
(1) **Waiver** — The Commission shall have the authority, on its own motion or in response to a petition by a manufacturer or provider of advanced communications services or any interested party, to waive the requirements of this section for any feature or function of equipment used to provide or access advanced communications services, or for any class of such equipment, for any provider of advanced communications services, or for any class of such services, that—
(A) is capable of accessing an advanced communications service; and
(B) is designed for multiple purposes, but is designed primarily for purposes other than using advanced communications services.
(2) **Small entity exemption** — The Commission may exempt small entities from the requirements of this section.
**(i) Customized equipment or services** The provisions of this section shall not apply to customized equipment or services that are not offered directly to the public, or to such classes of users as to be effectively available directly to the public, regardless of the facilities used.
**(j) Rule of construction** This section shall not be construed to require a manufacturer of equipment used for advanced communications or a provider of advanced communications services to make every feature and function of every device or service accessible for every disability.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Accessibility** If a manufacturer of a telephone used with public mobile services (as such term is defined in [section 610(b)(4)(B) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title47-section610/b/4/B&num=0&edition=prelim)) includes an Internet browser in such telephone, or if a provider of mobile service arranges for the inclusion of a browser in telephones to sell to customers, the manufacturer or provider shall ensure that the functions of the included browser (including the ability to launch the browser) are accessible to and usable by individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment, unless doing so is not achievable, except that this subsection shall not impose any requirement on such manufacturer or provider—
(1) to make accessible or usable any Internet browser other than a browser that such manufacturer or provider includes or arranges to include in the telephone; or
(2) to make Internet content, applications, or services accessible or usable (other than enabling individuals with disabilities to use an included browser to access such content, applications, or services).
**(b) Industry flexibility** A manufacturer or provider may satisfy the requirements of subsection (a) with respect to such telephone or services by—
(1) ensuring that the telephone or services that such manufacture or provider offers is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities without the use of third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment; or
(2) using third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment that is available to the consumer at nominal cost and that individuals with disabilities can access.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 47 U.S.C. § 619
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Definitions** As used in this section—
(1) **Disability** — The term “disability” has the meaning given to it by section 12102(2)(A) 11 See References in Text note below. of title 42.
(2) **Readily achievable** — The term “readily achievable” has the meaning given to it by [section 12181(9) of title 42](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section12181/9&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(b) Manufacturing** A manufacturer of telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment shall ensure that the equipment is designed, developed, and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.
**(c) Telecommunications services** A provider of telecommunications service shall ensure that the service is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.
**(d) Compatibility** Whenever the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) are not readily achievable, such a manufacturer or provider shall ensure that the equipment or service is compatible with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, if readily achievable.
**(e) Guidelines** Within 18 months after February 8, 1996, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall develop guidelines for accessibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment in conjunction with the Commission. The Board shall review and update the guidelines periodically.
**(f) No additional private rights authorized** Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any private right of action to enforce any requirement of this section or any regulation thereunder. The Commission shall have exclusi
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 47 U.S.C. § 255
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Commission from time to time, as public convenience, interest, or necessity requires, shall—
**(a)** Classify radio stations;
**(b)** Prescribe the nature of the service to be rendered by each class of licensed stations and each station within any class;
**(c)** Assign bands of frequencies to the various classes of stations, and assign frequencies for each individual station and determine the power which each station shall use and the time during which it may operate;
**(d)** Determine the location of classes of stations or individual stations;
**(e)** Regulate the kind of apparatus to be used with respect to its external effects and the purity and sharpness of the emissions from each station and from the apparatus therein;
**(f)** Make such regulations not inconsistent with law as it may deem necessary to prevent interference between stations and to carry out the provisions of this chapter: Provided, however, That changes in the frequencies, authorized power, or in the times of operation of any station, shall not be made without the consent of the station licensee unless the Commission shall determine that such changes will promote public convenience or interest or will serve public necessity, or the provisions of this chapter will be more fully complied with;
**(g)** Study new uses for radio, provide for experimental uses of frequencies, and generally encourage the larger and more effective use of radio in the public interest;
**(h)** Have authority to establish areas or zones to be served by any station;
**(i)** Have authority to make special regulations applicable to radio stations engaged in chain broadcasting;
**(j)** Have authority to make general rules and regulations requiring stations to keep such rec
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 47 U.S.C. § 303
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 339
TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
§ 617
relay services are adopted by providers of such
relay services; and
(8) that take into account what is tech-
nically and economically feasible.
(d) Meetings
(1) Initial meeting
The initial meeting of the Advisory Com-
mittee shall take place not later than 45 days
after the completion of the member appoint-
ment process by the Chairman of the Commis-
sion pursuant to subsection (b).
(2) Other meetings
After the initial meeting, the Advisory Com-
mittee shall meet at the call of the chairs, but
no less than monthly until the recommenda-
tions required pursuant to subsection (c) are
completed and submitted.
(3) Notice; open meetings
Any meetings held by the Advisory Com-
mittee shall be duly noticed at least 14 days in
advance and shall be open to the public.
(e) Rules
(1) Quorum
One-third of the members of the Advisory
Committee shall constitute a quorum for con-
ducting business of the Advisory Committee.
(2) Subcommittees
To assist the Advisory Committee in car-
rying out its functions, the chair may estab-
lish appropriate subcommittees composed of
members of the Advisory Committee and other
subject matter experts as determined to be
necessary.
(3) Additional rules
The Advisory Committee may adopt other
rules as needed.
(f) Chapter 10 of title 5
Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the Ad-
visory Committee.
(g) Implementing recommendations
The Commission shall have the authority to
promulgate regulations to implement the rec-
ommendations proposed by the Advisory Com-
mittee, as well as any other regulations, tech-
nical standards, protocols, and procedures as are
necessary to achieve reliable, interoperable
communication that ensures access by individ-
uals with disabilities to an Internet
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 47 U.S.C. § 617
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