Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 1.djvu/100

 110 STAT. 76 PUBLIC LAW 104-104—FEB. 8, 1996 with existing peripheral devices or speciahzed customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, if readily achievable. "(e) GUIDELINES. — Within 18 months after the date of enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall develop guidelines for accessibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment in conjunction with the Commission. The Board shall review and update the guidelines periodically. "(f) No ADDITIONAL PRIVATE RIGHTS AUTHORIZED.— Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any private right of action to enforce any requirement of this section or any regulation thereunder. The Commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any complaint under this section. 47 USC 256. "SEC. 256. COORDINATION FOR INTERCONNECTIVITY. "(a) PURPOSE. —It is the purpose of this section— "(1) to promote nondiscriminatory accessibility by the broadest number of users and vendors of communications products and services to public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service through— "(A) coordinated public telecommunications network planning and design by telecommunications carriers and other providers of telecommunications service; and "(B) public telecommunications network interconnectivity, and interconnectivity of devices with such networks used to provide telecommunications service; and "(2) to ensure the ability of users and information providers to seamlessly and transparently transmit and receive information between and across telecommunications networks. "(b) COMMISSION FUNCTIONS.— In carrying out the purposes of this section, the Commission— "(1) shall establish procedures for Commission oversight of coordinated network planning by telecommunications carriers and other providers of telecommunications service for the effective and efficient interconnection of public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service; and "(2) may participate, in a manner consistent with its authority and practice prior to the date of enactment of this section, in the development by appropriate industry standardssetting organizations of public telecommunications network interconnectivity standards that promote access to— "(A) public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service; "(B) network capabilities and services by individuals with disabilities; and "(C) information services by subscribers of rural telephone companies. "(c) COMMISSION'S AUTHORITY. — Nothing in this section shall be construed as expanding or limiting any authority that the Commission may have under law in effect before the date of enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. "(d) DEFINITION. —As used in this section, the term 'public telecommunications network interconnectivity' means the ability of two or more public telecommunications networks used to provide telecommunications service to communicate and exchange informa-

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