PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 10-2001 Released: October 19, 2010 FCC REQUESTS NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP ON EMERGENCY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO ACCESSIBILITY ACT In this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) seeks nominations for membership on its Emergency Access Advisory Committee (“EAAC” or “Committee”). The EAAC is being established in accordance with the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (Twenty-first Century Act),1 which directs that an advisory committee be established, within 60 days after the Act’s passage, for the purpose of achieving equal access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities as part of our nation’s migration to a national Internet protocol-enabled emergency network, also known as the next generation 9-1-1 system (“NG9-1-1”).2 The EAAC is to have monthly meetings. The EAAC is to be composed generally of state and local government representatives responsible for emergency management and emergency responder representatives, national organizations representing people with disabilities and senior citizens, subject matter experts, and others, as described below. Nominations should be submitted in accordance with the procedures outlined below, which includes an optional online nomination form. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2) does not apply to the Advisory Committee.3 EAAC MISSION The purpose of the EAAC is to determine the most effective and efficient technologies and methods by which to enable access to NG9-1-1 emergency services by individuals with disabilities. In order to fulfill this mission, the Twenty-first Century Act directs that within one year after the EAAC’s members are appointed, the Committee shall conduct a national survey, with the input of groups represented by the Committee’s membership, after which the Committee shall develop and submit to the Commission recommendations to implement such technologies and methods. These recommendations shall take into account what is technically and economically feasible, and include the following:4 (1) actions needed for the migration to a national Internet protocol-enabled network to achieve reliable, interoperable communication that will ensure access to emergency services by people with disabilities; 1 PL 111-260, signed into law on October 8, 2010. 2 PL 111-260, § 106. This EAAC will address NG9-1-1 issues. A second advisory committee, the Video Programming and Emergency Access Advisory Committee, mandated by section 201 of this law, will address video programming emergency access issues. 3 PL 111-260, § 106(f). 4 PL 111-260, § 106(c). 2 (2) protocols, technical capabilities, and technical requirements to ensure the reliability and interoperability necessary to ensure access to emergency services by people with disabilities; (3) technical standards for use by public safety answering points, designated default answering points, and local emergency authorities; (4) technical standards and requirements for communication devices and equipment and technologies to enable the use of reliable emergency access; (5) procedures to ensure that IP-enabled network providers do not install features, functions, or capabilities that would conflict with technical standards needed to achieve 9-1-1 emergency access by people with disabilities; (6) deadlines by which interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP service providers and manufacturers shall achieve the actions required in the above paragraphs, where achievable, and for the possible phase out of current-generation TTY technology to the extent that this technology is replaced with more effective and efficient technologies and methods to enable access to emergency services by people with disabilities; and (7) rules to update the Commission's telecommunications relay services regulations with respect to 9-1-1 services, as new technologies and methods for providing such relay services are adopted by providers of such relay services. MEMBERSHIP The Commission seeks nominations for the membership of the EAAC from the following groups:5 · State and local government representatives responsible for emergency management and emergency responder representatives, selected from among persons nominated by national organizations representing such governments and representatives; · Providers of interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP services; · Vendors, developers, and manufacturers of systems, facilities, equipment, and capabilities for the provision of interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP services; · National organizations representing people with disabilities and senior citizens; · Federal agencies responsible for the implementation of the NG9-1-1 system; · The National Institute of Standards and Technology; and · Other individuals with subject matter or technical knowledge and expertise. From the nominations submitted, the Chairman of the Commission will appoint the members of the EAAC to serve on the EAAC for a minimum period of two years. The Chairman retains the discretion to choose stakeholders and interested and affected parties other than those enumerated above, as are deemed 5 PL 111-260, § 106(b)(1)-(3). 3 appropriate to the membership of this committee. The Chairman will also select two co-chairs to lead the Committee, in accordance with the legislative mandate.6 Selections for the committee’s membership will be made to maximize a diversity of viewpoints necessary to an advisory body charged with advising the Commission on matters relevant to emergency access for persons with disabilities as a part of the migration to a national Internet protocol-enabled emergency network. The goal will be to ensure a balance between individuals with disabilities and other stakeholders.7 NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP/ DEADLINE Nominations for EAAC membership should include the nominee’s name, title, and organization if appropriate, as well as the nominee’s postal address, e-mail address, and telephone number. Nominees should also include a statement of the nominee’s interests, any specific expertise or issues of interest to the nominee, and a detailed description of the nominee’s qualifications to serve on the EAAC. Individuals may self-nominate, or be nominated by a third party. If self-nominating, the nominee should also include a statement indicating a willingness to serve on the Committee for a two-year term of service, and a commitment to attend monthly meetings in Washington, D.C. A sample nomination form is attached and may be used, but is not required. If nominating a third party, please include as much of the above information as possible. The Commission must receive nominations by 11:59 PM, EST, November 1, 2010. The nominations may be sent to the Federal Communications Commission, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Attn.: Cheryl King, via e-mail at EAAC@fcc.gov, via facsimile at 202-418-0037, or via U.S. mail at EAAC Nominations, FCC, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. Nominations may also be completed online. An online nomination process is provided at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/EAAC/EAACnominationform.html. Due to the extensive security screening of incoming mail since September 11, 2001, delivery of mail sent to the FCC may be delayed. Therefore, we encourage submission by e-mail, fax or via the online nomination form. FCC staff will acknowledge receipt of your nomination by e-mail or fax shortly thereafter. Please note this Notice is not intended to be the exclusive method by which the Commission will solicit nominations and expressions of interest to identify qualified candidates. However, all candidates for membership on the Council will be subject to the same evaluation criteria. APPOINTMENTS AND FIRST MEETING The Commission will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the appointment of EAAC members and the first meeting date. As directed by the Twenty-first Century Act, the first meeting of the EAAC will occur not later than 45 days after the completion of the member appointment process. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl King, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 202-418-2284 (voice) or 202-418-0416 (TTY), Cheryl.King@fcc.gov (e-mail) or Patrick Donovan, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 202-418-2413, Patrick.Donovan@fcc.gov (e-mail). - FCC - 6 PL 111-260, § 106 (b). 7 Id. 4 EMERGENCY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOMINATION FORM (OPTIONAL) NOTE: Nominations may be made by an individual or by an organization selecting a nominee. Name: __________________________________________________________________ Organization and title: ______________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ City: __________________________ State: ______________ Zip: _______________ Contact telephone numbers and information (*please indicate preferred contact method): Business: ____________________ Home: ______________________ Fax: ________________________ Cell: ________________________ Email: _________________________________ Affiliation or identification (optional) § person with a disability, advocate, or national organization representing persons with disabilities § person who is a senior citizen, advocate, or national organization representing persons who are senior citizens § emergency manager or emergency responder § local, tribal or state government official (give title): ________________________ § subject matter expert (specify): _______________________________ § vendor, developer, or manufacturer of systems, facilities, equipment, and capabilities for the provision of interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP services § provider of interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP services § Federal agency or department responsible for the implementation of the NG 9-1-1 system § National Institute of Standards and Technology § other individual or company with relevant technical knowledge and expertise. Please specify:____________________________________________________ Statement of interest and commitment to attend monthly meetings and serve for up to a two-year term (may add additional information on separate sheets): _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ Signed: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________