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OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

M E M O R A N D U M





DATE:	January 19, 2001

TO:		Chairman		

FROM:	Inspector General

SUBJECT:	Report on Special Review of Web Page Accessibility

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has completed a Special Review to evaluate the 
accessibility of Commission Web sites by those persons with disabilities.  A copy of our Special 
Review Report, entitled "Report on Special Review of Web Accessibility", is attached.  The 
objective of this special review was to determine whether Commission web sites are accessible to 
disabled users.  We sought to determine if the Commission would be able to implement Federal 
standards related to web accessibility when they become effective next year.  To accomplish the 
objectives of our review, we first reviewed its program on disability rights.  Next, to determine 
the Commission's compliance Federal laws and standards, we tested over three hundred FCC 
Internet web pages using a series of automated tools.  

In our opinion, the Commission has a proactive and effective web accessibility program 
supported by the Disabilities Rights Office (DRO) within the Consumer Information Bureau 
(CIB), the Office of Media Relations (OMR), and the Information Technology Center (ITC). To 
test its effectiveness, we used a suite of web accessibility tools to test over three hundred (300) 
FCC Internet pages.  We found accessibility issues in thirty-one (31) web pages.  Some of the 
accessibility problems identified may make these pages difficult or impossible for a disabled 
person to use.  As a result of the observations made during our review, we recommend that the 
Commission correct the identified problems, continue its active accessibility program, and focus 
its attention upon instituting a system to make sure that its Internet web pages are accessible to 
everyone, including those with disabilities.  

In a joint response to the draft report, the Chief - CIB, the Director - OMR and the Managing 
Director concurred with our findings.  They stated that "OMR and the Information Technology 
Center (ITC) will ask the developers responsible for the identified pages to review and fix the 
accessibility problems within 90 days, or submit a work plan and time table by February 1, 2001 
for revising the pages."  Also, they pointed out the specific sections in the Commission's 
Systems Development Life Cycle that relate to web accessibility laws and regulations.  We have 
included a copy of the joint response in its entirety as Appendix 2 to our report.

If you have any questions, please contact Thomas Bennett, Assistant Inspector General for 
Audits at (202) 418-0477.




						H. Walker Feaster III

Attachment

cc:	Chief of Staff
	Managing Director
	Chief, Consumer Information Bureau
	Director, Office of Media Relations
Chief Information Officer
	AMD - PERM