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TIA Urges ICASA to Enhance ICT Accessibility to Disabled South Africans

TIA’s Comments Filed Yesterday Describes Global ICT Community Enhancing Accessibility In Accord with Global, Voluntary, Open and Consensus-Based Standards

Arlington, VA (April 29, 2014) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, filed comments yesterday with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) in response to its draft Code for People with Disabilities Regulation.  The code was published on March 28, 2014 in the Government Gazette of the Republic of South Africa.

In this submission, TIA described how the global information and communications technology (ICT) manufacturer and vendor community that TIA represents actively works to enhance accessibility to advanced communications products and services.  These companies work toward this goal both individually and through the development of global, voluntary, open, and consensus-based standards.

TIA urged ICASA to rely upon such standards as they develop new technical requirements to enhance the ICT accessibility to South African citizens with disabilities. TIA also urged ICASA to clarify the scope of their proposed regulations and to ensure technical feasibility and flexibility are incorporated into the regulations.

TIA’s comments are available here.

About TIA

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents manufacturers and suppliers of global communications networks through standards development, policy and advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence, and events and networking. TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment, and entertainment. Visit tiaonline.org for more details.

TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and is a proud sponsor of ANSI’s Standards Boost Business campaign. Visit www.standardsboostbusiness.org for details.

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