January 14, 1999



Henry Line
Guido Gürtler
ICSCA Co-Chairs

Dear Co-Chairs Line and Gürtler:

	I would like to extend my greetings to the members of the Industry Cooperation on Standards and Conformity Assessment.  I would like to congratulate your organization and its members for your shared vision of increased international trade and commerce through appropriate application of industry standards.  Organizations such as ICSCA, whose member companies represent over one trillion dollars in annual business, are industry leaders in the telecommunications revolution.  

	I am especially pleased that the agenda for your Fourth Annual Meetings includes a discussion of access to telecommunications by persons with disabilities.  This demonstrates ICSCA's commitment to global cooperation for all persons.  When I became Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, I promised to ensure that the telecommunications revolution benefits all persons, including persons with disabilities.  In the United States, we have 54 million Americans with disabilities, the vast majority of whom are of working age.  Yet, despite our country's shortage of workers, and our lowest unemployment rate in decades, only 29% of working age Americans with disabilities are employed.  There is an enormous gap between the employment rate of people with disabilities and that of the general population.  I believe that accessible telecommunications is a key to closing this gap.

	Telecommunications technology promises to allow us to communicate anytime, anyplace, in any mode -- voice, data, image, video, and multimedia.  It includes using intelligent, programmable wireline and wireless networks and associated end user equipment.  Properly harnessed, these networks and devices create a potent platform upon which to serve the needs of all of our citizens, including those with disabilities.  They create new and expanded opportunities for accessibility and inclusiveness.  If these powerful new platforms are not designed, developed and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, then, as they evolve, people with disabilities will become isolated rather than empowered.  Employment statistics will become worse, and the potential of millions of persons with disabilities worldwide will never be realized.  I am pleased, therefore, that your organization will be addressing these critical issues, and we at the Federal Communications Commission look forward to working with your organization in the future.

						Sincerely,

				

						William E. Kennard 	
						Chairman
						
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