Title 47 — Telecommunications
Part II · Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication
§ 255. Access by persons with disabilities
Statutory text
Definitions
As used in this section—
Disability
The term “disability” has the meaning given to it by section 12102(2)(A) 1 of title 42.
Readily achievable
The term “readily achievable” has the meaning given to it by section 12181(9) of title 42.
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.
Telecommunications services
A provider of telecommunications service shall ensure that the service is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.
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.
Guidelines
Within 18 months after , 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.
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 exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any complaint under this section.
Footnotes
- 1 See References in Text note below.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 104–104 title I § 101(a) · 110 Stat. 75
Enacted · 47 U.S.C. § 255
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 255, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 75.)
Source evidence
Code source credit
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 255, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 75.)
0 of 1 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 12102 of title 42, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was amended generally by Pub. L. 110–325, § 4(a), , 122 Stat. 3555, and, as so amended, provisions formerly appearing in par. (2)(A) are now contained in par. (1)(A).
Credits
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 255, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), , 110 Stat. 75.)