On December 2, 2014, the Commission established the Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) to provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on a wide array of disability issues.
The DAC provides a means for stakeholders with interests in accessibility issues to exchange ideas, facilitates the participation of consumers with disabilities in proceedings before the Commission, and assists the Commission in educating the greater disability community and covered entities on disability-related matters. The DAC keeps the Commission apprised of current and evolving communications issues for persons with disabilities. Topics to be considered by the DAC, as specified by the Commission may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Communications Access
- Advanced Communications Services and Equipment
- Access to Telephone Emergency Services (9-1-1)
- Hearing Aid Compatibility
- National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
- Telecommunications Relay Services
- Telecommunications Services and Equipment
Video Programming Access
- Access to Televised Emergency Information
- Accessible User Interfaces on Video Programming Apparatus and Access to Program Guides and Menus Provided by Navigation Devices
- Audio Description
- Closed Captioning
Click the tabs below for additional information regarding each term of the Disability Advisory Committee.
DAC5, 2022-24
Structure of the DAC
Headlines
8-30-22 FCC Announces Anticipated Renewal of Its Disability Advisory Committee and Solicits Applications For Membership (DA 22-905) Public Notice: Word || PDF
Application Portal link: Membership Application
DAC4, 2020-22
Disability Advisory Committee Term Four
Structure of the DAC
Fourth Term Members
Events
Meeting Agendas
- November 1, 2022: Word || PDF
- June 28, 2022: Word || PDF
- February 24, 2022: Word || PDF
- September 9, 2021: Word || PDF
- February 18, 2021: Word || PDF
DAC Recommendations
- Real-Time Text (RTT) Deployment in Wireline Networks
Word || PDF - Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Use on Video Conferencing Platforms
Word || PDF - Concerns and Lessons Learned Regarding Communication Access for People with Disabilities During the Pandemic
Word || PDF - Identification of Emerging Technologies and Their Associated Accessibility Opportunities and Considerations
Word || PDF - Streamed Video Programming Closed Captioning Files
Word || PDF
Ex Parte Exemption Status
- 1-2-18 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 18-7)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
Headlines
9-26-22 FCC Announces November 1 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 22-1002)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
6-7-22 FCC Announces June 28 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 22-615)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
2-24-22 Remarks of Commissioner Geoffrey Starks at the February 24, 2022 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DOC 380680)
Remarks: Word || PDF
1-19-22 FCC Announces February 24, 2022 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 22-60)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
8-10-21 FCC Announces September 9, 2021 Disability Advisory Committee Meeting
Public Notice: Word || PDF
1-13-21 FCC Announces Fourth Term of Disability Advisory Committee & February 18 Meeting (DA 21-51)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
7-14-20 FCC Announces Anticipated Renewal of Its Disability Advisory Committee and Solicits Applications For Membership (DA 20-722)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
DAC3, 2018-20
Disability Advisory Committee Term Three
Structure of the DAC
Third Term Members
Events
Meeting Agendas
- October 14, 2020: Word || PDF
- February 26, 2020: Word || PDF
- September 24, 2019: Word || PDF
- April 10, 2019: Word || PDF
DAC Recommendations
- Audio Description Quality Best Practices
Word || PDF - Access to Live Programming Best Practices
Word || PDF
Appendix A: ENT Coordinator Toolkit in English and Spanish - Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service User Registration Database
Word || PDF - Providing Reliable Information About Televised Programs with Audio Description
Word || PDF - RTT Integration with Point-to-Point videophone Calls
Word || PDF - RTT Integration with Video Relay Services Calls
Word || PDF
Ex Parte Exemption Status
- 1-2-18 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 18-7)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
Headlines
9-10-20 FCC Announces October 14, 2020 Meeting of Disability Advisory Committee (DA 20-1066)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
1-22-20 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting: February 26 (DA 20-92)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
8-20-19 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting: September 24 (DA 19-788)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
3-7-19 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting: April 10 (DA 19-157)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
2-7-19 Appointment of Membership to for the 2019-2021 Term for the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 19-55)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
8-22-18 FCC Announces Anticipated Renewal of Disability Advisory Committee and Invites Membership Applications (DA-18-862)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
DAC2, 2016-18
Disability Advisory Committee Term Two
Structure of the DAC
Second Term Members
- Disability Advisory Committee: Word || PDF
- Emergency Communications Subcommittee: Word || PDF
- Relay / Equipment Distribution Subcommittee: Word || PDF
- Video Programming Subcommittee: Word || PDF
- Technology Transitions Subcommittee: Word || PDF
Events
Meeting Agendas
- October 3, 2018: Word || PDF
- june 14, 2018: Word || PDF
- February 28, 2018: Word || PDF
- October 16, 2017: Word || PDF
- June 16, 2017: Word || PDF
- March 21, 2017: Word || PDF
DAC Recommendations
- Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Relay Service Metrics
Word || PDF - Access to Telecommunications Relay Services at Emergency Shelters
Word || PDF - RTT on Refreshable Braille Displays
Word || PDF - RTT and TRS Operations
Word || PDF - Best Practices for Graphical Emergency Alerts
Word || PDF - RTT Implementations with Refreshable Braille Displays
Word || PDF - Methods for Assessing the Quality of IP Captioned Telephone Service (IPCTS)
Word || PDF - Accelerating Public Safety Answering Point Adoption of Real-Time Text
Word || PDF
Headlines
8-29-18 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA-18-894)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
5-23-18 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 18-546)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
2-01-18 FCC Announces Date of Disability Advisory Committee Meeting (DA 18-98)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
1-2-18 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 18-7)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
9-21-17 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement Of Date, Time And Agenda Of Next Meeting (DA 17-906)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 17-468)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
2-21-17 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement Of Date, Time And Agenda Of Next Meeting (DA 17-181)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
1-5-17 Appointment of Membership for the 2017-2019 Term of the Disability Advisory Committee and Announcement of Tentative Dates for DAC Meetings (DA 17-19)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
9-6-16 FCC Announces Anticipated Renewal of Disability Advisory Committee and Solicits Applications for Membership (DA 16-1011)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
DAC1, 2014-16
Disability Advisory Committee Term One
Structure of the DAC
First Term Members
- Disability Advisory Committee: Word || PDF
- Communications Subcommittee: Word || PDF
- Emergency Communications Subcommittee: Word || PDF
- Relay / Equipment Distribution Subcommittee: Word || PDF
- Video Programming Subcommittee: Word || PDF
- Technology Transitions Subcommittee: Word || PDF
Events
- December 6, 2016
- September 22, 2016
- June 16, 2016
- February 23, 2016
- October 8, 2015
- June 23, 2015
- March 17, 2015
Meeting Agendas
- December 6, 2016: Word || PDF
- September 22, 2016: Word || PDF
- June 16, 2016: Word || PDF
- February 23, 2016: Word || PDF
- October 8, 2015: Word || PDF
- June 23, 2015: Word || PDF
- March 17, 2015: Word || PDF
DAC Recommendations
- Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation on Number Portability
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Video to Text
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Internet of Things
Word || PDF - Best Practices to Promote Effective Access to and Usability of ICT Products and Services for Americans with Cognitive Disabilities
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation on IP Captioned Telephone Service Quality Standards
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation on 911 Training for Video Relay Service Communication Assistants
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation on Amplified Phones
Word || PDF - Approved Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on HD Voice
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Captioning Case Formatting
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Comments on PS Docket No. 15-91 on Improving Wireless Emergency Alerts and Community-Initiated Alerting
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Further Recommendation to the Commission on Real-Time Text
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation Regarding Issues to Consider for Video Described Video Programming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Proceeding
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation Regarding Interagency Collaboration on Accessibility of Video Programming
Word PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Direct Video Access to 911
Word || PDF - Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on TRS Access to N-1-1 Services
Word || PDF - Approved Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on Real-Time Text
Word PDF - Approved Disability Advisory Committee Recommendation to the Commission on New and Emerging Technologies
Word || PDF - DAC Recommendation to the Commission Regarding Data and Information on Telecommunication Needs of People with Disabilities
Word || PDF - DAC Recommendation to the Commission on Wireless Emergency Alerts
Word || PDF - DAC Recommendation to the Commission Regarding VRS Speed of Answer
Word || PDF
Headlines
11-10-16 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement Of Date, Time And Agenda Of Next Meeting (DA 16-1272)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
8-22-16 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 16-956)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
5-20-16 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 16-572)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
1-28-16 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 16-98)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
10-1-15 Announcement of FCC Summit on Telecommunication Needs of People with Cognitive Disabilities (DA 15-1110)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
9-11-15 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (DA 15-1002)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
6-11-15 Notice Concerning Ex Parte Status of Information Submitted to or by the Disability Advisory Committee (DA 15-689)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
5-29-15 Disability Advisory Committee Announcement of Date, Time and Agenda of Next Meeting (June 23, 2015) (DA 15-649)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
2-10-15 FCC Announces First Meeting Date of the Disability Advisory Committee and Appointment of Membership (DA 15-194)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
12-2-14 FCC Announces the Establishment of the Disability Advisory Committee and Solicits Nominations for Membership (DA 14-1737)
Public Notice:Word || PDF
News Release: Word || PDF