Leaving It Up to the Industry: People With Disabilities and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 |
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| Authors: | Tomoko Kanayama |
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| Institution: |
a School of Telecommunications, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA. |
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| Abstract: | This article examines whether Section 255 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act achieves accessibility for people with disabilities. Taking the interest group approach, it shows that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented Section 255 in a way that is favorable to the telecommunications industry and not to people with disabilities. The FCC's regulations only encourage the telecommunication industry to consider accessibility issues for people with disabilities. This proindustry regulatory bias is in keeping with the established pattern of policymaking in other areas concerning people with disabilities. The paper argues that if the FCC continues to rely on the voluntary efforts of the industry, people with disabilities will not enjoy benefits of access to telecommunications systems. |
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| Keywords: | Accessibility Interest Groups People With Disabilities Telecommunication Policy Telecommunications Act Of 1996 |
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