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This archival content is maintained by WebAIM and NCDAE on behalf of TEITAC and the U.S. Access Board . Additional and up-to-date details on the updates to section 508 and section 255 can be found at the Access Board web site.

EWG:Draft Oct 26 SubA Purpose

Subpart A: Section 1194.1 Purpose

This page is the text proposed in the Nov Plenary Meeting.

Go to the Oct 26 Draft of this Provision

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The purpose of this part is to implement section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d) and Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act, 47 U.S.C. 255.

Section 508
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data including communication that are as timely, accurate, complete, and efficient as compared to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data including communication that are as timely, accurate, complete, and efficient as compared to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

Section 255
Pursuant to Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act, this part provides guidelines for the design, development and fabrication of telecommunications equipment , interconnected voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) products and customer premises equipment (CPE) used to provide telecommunications services or interconnected VoIP service, as well as existing products and CPE that undergo substantial change or upgrade, or for which new releases are distributed, to be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. These guidelines would not apply to minor or insubstantial changes to existing products and CPE that do not affect functionality.