Air travel; nondiscrimination on basis of disability; meeting,

[Federal Register: November 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 223)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 63279-63280]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr19no99-34]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

49 CFR Ch. I

Office of the Secretary

[Docket OST-1996-1880]

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Air Travel

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: DOT is convening a public meeting to discuss whether the Department should commence a rulemaking to require certain additional accommodations for hearing-impaired passengers under the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986. This notice announces the date, time, location, and procedures for the public meeting.

DATES: The public meeting is scheduled for November 30, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in Room 2101 at the Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sophy Chen, Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Regulation and Enforcement, telephone number (202) 366-9353 or via email at sophy.chen@ost.dot.gov; or Robert Ashby, Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Regulation and Enforcement, telephone number (202) 366-9310 (voice) or (202) 755-7687 (TDD), or via email at bob.ashby@ost.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In a November 1996 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the Department proposed to amend the Department's Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) rules regarding seating accommodations for individuals with disabilities and the stowage of collapsible electric wheelchairs (61 FR 56481; November 1, 1996). In that NPRM, the Department also requested comments on the following four suggestions the Department had received regarding accommodations for persons with hearing impairments: (1) Captioning of video material (e.g., movies and other entertainment features) shown on the aircraft; (2) making telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs) available where air phone service is provided to other passengers; (3) providing assistive listening technology for public address announcements in the aircraft; and (4) providing electronic message or assistive listening technology in gate areas. The Department sought comments on the need for such accommodations, as well as their technical feasibility and cost.

The Department received several comments, which are available in Docket OST-1996-1880. The Department's dockets are available at DOT Headquarters, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, in Room PL-104 and can also be accessed at the Department's Docket Management

[[Page 63280]]

System Internet site (http://dms.dot.gov). In the preamble for the final rule that resulted from the November 1996 rulemaking, however, the Department deferred decision on whether to require these accommodations for hearing-impaired passengers. At this time, the Department seeks to reopen discussion about these suggestions.

Meeting Procedures

1. To reserve a seat or to ensure that you have the opportunity to speak, please contact Sophy Chen (see information under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) as soon as possible. The meeting is otherwise open for observation without prior arrangement. Seating, however, will be restricted by room size and will be available on a first-come, first- served basis.

2. The meeting will be structured so that a balanced group of interested parties are the primary participants. However, opportunities for anyone in attendance to speak will be made available as well. For scheduling purposes, anyone wishing to make a short presentation highlighting technologies that are relevant to making air travel accessible for hearing-impaired individuals are encouraged to contact Sophy Chen (see information under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) as soon as possible.

3. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit views and more complete information on the need, feasibility, and cost of the suggested accommodations for hearing-impaired air travelers. The meeting will be conducted, therefore, in an informal and non-adversarial manner. No individual will be subject to cross-examination by any other participant. Panel members may, however, ask questions to clarify statements and to ensure a complete and accurate record.

Issued in Washington, DC on November 10, 1999. Rosalind A. Knapp, Deputy General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 99-30291Filed11-18-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-62-P