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NEWS
Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C. 20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
December 5, 2012 Michael Snyder at (202) 418-0997

E-mail: Michael.Snyder@fcc.gov
FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI TO HONOR INNOVATORS IN
ACCESSIBILITY COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES
Demonstrations of Technologies to Be Displayed December 19 Through December 31 in the
Commission’s Technology Experience Center (TEC)
Washington, D.C. – Eight projects representing significant innovation in communications
technology benefitting people with disabilities will receive the FCC’s Chairman’s Awards for
Advancement in Accessibility, presented by Chairman Julius Genachowski during a ceremony at
2 pm on Dec. 19 at FCC headquarters.
Now in their second year, the awards are intended to encourage technological innovation in
communication-related areas and to recognize engineers, researchers, and other technologists
whose energies and perseverance contribute to technologies that help people with disabilities to
obtain and succeed at jobs and participate more actively in the community.
The awards are a project of the FCC’s Accessibility and Innovation Initiative, which is based on
a recommendation from the FCC’s 2010 National Broadband Plan. The A&I Initiative seeks to
facilitate dialogue among industry, assistive technology companies, app developers, government
representatives, and consumers to allow stakeholders to share best practices and solutions for
accessible communications technologies.
Awards will be presented for the development of mainstream or assistive technologies, the
development of standards, and the implementation of best practices that foster accessibility. The
awards focus on six categories: Consumer Empowerment Information; Mobile Applications;
Civic Participation Solutions; Education: College or University; Video Programming; and Geo-
Location Solutions. In addition to the winners in these categories, two honorable mentions will
also be recognized.
The Chairman’s 2012 AAA Winners are:
· Consumer Empowerment Information -- Project StAR: Accessible Radio 2012/The Narrator
· Mobile Applications -- WGBH National Center for Accessible Media: “Media Access
Mobile”
· Civic Participation Solutions -- Prime III: A Universally Designed Voting Machine
· Education: College or University -- Project: Possibilities SS12: Code for a Cause

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·
Video Programming -- Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)
·
Geo-Location Services -- Tiramisu Transit
The Chairman’s 2012 AAA Honorable Mentions are:
·
Civic Participation -- Google+ Hangouts
·
Mobile Applications -- Virtual Braille Keyboard
The winning projects will be displayed in the FCC’s Technology Experience Center along with
other cutting-edge technologies that provide access to persons with disabilities from Dec. 19-31.
The Technology Experience Center is open to the public and offers the opportunity for visitors to
experiment with these technologies.
The awards ceremony is free and open to the public. Individuals interested in attending this event
are asked to send an RSVP to ChairmansAAA@fcc.gov. Please include your name, title,
organization affiliation (if any), and contact information in the e-mail.
Audio/Video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the
Internet from the FCC's web page at fcc.gov/live. The FCC’s webcast is free to the public and
does not require pre-registration.
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a
description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you if we need more
information. Make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests will be accepted, but
may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
For more information about the FCC, visit FCC.gov.

--FCC--

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