FCC Seeking Nominations for Chairman's Awards for Advancement in Accessibility

The Federal Communications Commission will accept nominations for the Fifth Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman’s AAA) beginning January 11, 2016 through March 31, 2016 for products, services, technologies or practices introduced to the public between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. The Chairman’s AAA are part of an FCC effort designed to recognize the efforts of individuals, organizations, academic institutions, companies and government agencies to make communications tools more accessible to people with disabilities. This effort also aims to encourage technological innovation and accessibility in communications-related areas.

For this Fifth Chairman’s AAA, the FCC continues to seek nominations for emerging and innovative technologies. To this end, nominations may be submitted, for example, for the development of mainstream or assistive technologies introduced into the marketplace, the development of standards, or the implementation of best practices that foster accessibility. In addition, nominations may be submitted for any product, service, technology or practice introduced to the public for the first time that is the result of an invention of a new technology, repurposing of existing technologies, or combining existing and emerging technologies in novel ways to increase accessibility for people with disabilities. In 2016, we are particularly interested in receiving nominations for innovations addressing the communications needs of people with cognitive disabilities. The Chairman’s AAA is open to any individual or entity in the public or private sector, or a combination thereof.