On January 18, 2017, the Access Board published a final rule that jointly updates requirements for information and communication technology covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Communication Act. The Section 508 Standards apply to electronic and information technology procured by the federal government, including computer hardware and software, websites, multimedia such as video, phone systems, and copiers. The Section 255 Guidelines address access to telecommunications products and services, and apply to manufacturers of telecommunication equipment.
The final rule jointly updates and reorganizes the Section 508 standards and Section 255 guidelines in response to market trends and innovations, such as the convergence of technologies. The refresh also harmonizes these requirements with other guidelines and standards both in the U.S. and abroad, including standards issued by the European Commission and with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a globally recognized voluntary consensus standard for web content and ICT.
On January 22, 2018, the Board corrected the final rule to restore provisions for TTY access that were inadvertently omitted.
Final Rule Updating the ICT Standards and Guidelines
- Final Rule (January 18, 2017)
Notice Postponing Final Rule Effective Date by One Day (March 2, 2017)
Correction to the Final Rule (January 22, 2018) - Overview of the Final Rule
- Webinar Series on the Final Rule (upcoming sessions)
Archived: Overview of the Rule January 31 and February 2 (repeat) - Final Regulatory Impact Analysis
- News Release
