{"abstract":"This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is an important step in the Commission's effort to increase the accessibility of telecommunications services and equipment to Americans with disabilities. The NPRM proposes a framework for implementing section 255 of the Communications Act of 1934 (Act), which requires telecommunications equipment manufacturers and service providers to ensure that their equipment and services are accessible to persons with disabilities, to the extent it is readily achievable to do so. In addition, if accessibility is not readily achievable, section 255 requires manufacturers and service providers to ensure compatibility with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, to the extent it is readily achievable to do so. The NPRM first explores the Commission's legal authority to establish rules implementing section 255. The NPRM then seeks comment on the interpretation of specific statutory terms that are relevant to the proceeding. Finally, the NPRM seeks comment on proposals to implement and enforce the requirement that telecommunications equipment and services be made accessible to the extent readily achievable. The actions proposed in the NPRM are needed to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind in the telecommunications revolution and consequently isolated from contemporary life.","action":"Notice of proposed rulemaking.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION","name":"Federal Communications Commission","id":161,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-communications-commission","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/161","parent_id":null,"slug":"federal-communications-commission"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/1998/05/22/98-13806.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":1,"title":47}],"citation":"63 FR 28456","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"1998-06-30","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Comments are due on or before June 30, 1998, and reply comments are due on or before August 14, 1998. Written comments by the public on the proposed information collections are due on or before June 30, 1998. Written comments must be submitted by OMB on the proposed information collections on or before July 21, 1998.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["WT Docket No. 96-198","FCC 98-55"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"98-13806","effective_on":null,"end_page":28473,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":null,"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1998/05/22/98-13806/implementation-of-section-255-of-the-telecommunications-act-of-1996-access-to-telecommunications","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/98-13806?publication_date=1998-05-22","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-1998-05-22/98-13806/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":18,"page_views":{"count":28,"last_updated":"2026-04-04 10:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1998-05-22/pdf/98-13806.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"1998-05-22","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/1998/05/22/98-13806.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-09-21T05:02:52Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":28456,"subtype":null,"title":"Implementation of Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Access to Telecommunications Services, Telecommunications Equipment, and Customer Premises Equipment by Persons With Disabilities","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":[],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":63}