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ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS 

R 221301Z MAR 01
  FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//C4//
  TO MARADMIN
  INFO DON CIO WASHINGTON DC
  BT
  UNCLAS //N01000//
  MARADMIN 140/01
  MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/C4//
  SUBJ/ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS//
  REF/A/DOC/FEDERAL ACCESS BOARD/21DEC2000/NOTAL//
  REF/B/MSG/ALNAV 018-01, 152200Z MAR 01/YMD:20010315//
  NARR/REF A IS THE FINAL ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (EIT)
  ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR DISABLED PERSONS.  REF B ANNOUNCES THE
  DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 508
  COMPLIANCE STANDARDS.//
  POC/M. ONEAL/MAJ/C4/-/TEL:DSN 223-3518/EMAIL:ONEALMS@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
  RMKS/1. IN 1998, CONGRESS AMENDED THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 AND
  STRENGTHENED PROVISIONS COVERING ACCESS TO FEDERAL INFORMATION AND
  SERVICES BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE AMENDMENT, HEREAFTER
  REFERRED TO AS SECTION 508, REQUIRES FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT
  ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES (EIT) (AS DEFINED BY THE
  CLINGER-COHEN ACT OF 1996) THAT AGENCIES DEVELOP, PROCURE, MAINTAIN,    
      OR USE ARE ACCESSIBLE TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
  WITH DISABILITIES. THE EIT ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS WERE PUBLISHED BY
  THE ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION COMPLIANCE BOARD ON 21 DEC 00.
  THESE STANDARDS ARE ENFORCEABLE BEGINNING 21 JUN 01, AFTER WHICH THE
  POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY TO FILE A
  COMPLAINT OR PURSUE CIVIL ACTION AGAINST AN AGENCY ABOUT ANY
  TECHNOLOGY HE OR SHE CANNOT ACCESS OR USE. ALTHOUGH THE FOCUS OF
  THIS LEGISLATION IS ON FUTURE EIT, LEGACY EIT THAT WILL BE USED
  DURING THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE ALSO FALLS UNDER THESE PROVISIONS. ANY
  EIT THAT IS PROCURED ON OR AFTER 21 JUN 01 MUST MEET THE
  ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS, UNLESS AN EXEMPTION IS APPLICABLE (SEE PARA
  5).
  2. SINCE THE PUBLISHING OF THE COMPLIANCE STANDARDS, THE DEPT OF THE
  NAVY CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (DON CIO), IN COORDINATION WITH HQMC
  C4 AND CNO N-6, HAS BEEN DEVELOPING A PLAN OF ACTION FOR
  IMPLEMENTING THESE STANDARDS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT. ALSO, DON CIO IS
  IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING AN ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT PROVIDES A    
      COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF A WEB PAGE'S OR IT SYSTEM'S COMPLIANCE STATUS.
  WHEN AVAILABLE, THIS TOOL WILL BE PROMULGATED ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT.
  3. CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALLOCATED OR PLANNED
  FOR THIS EFFORT.  THE DOD COMPUTER/ELECTRONIC ACCOMMODATIONS PROGRAM
  (CAP) WILL PROVIDE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (E.G., TELETYPEWRITERS,
  SPEECH AND BRAILLE OUTPUT SYSTEMS, ETC.) AND SERVICES TO ENSURE
  FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO EIT. THE
  CAP HOME PAGE IS HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.TRICARE.OSD.MIL/CAP.
  4. APPLICABILITY.  SECTION 508 APPLIES TO THE FOLLOWING EIT:
  A. COMPUTERS AND NETWORKS (E.G., HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, WEB PAGES,
  EMAIL)
  B. INFORMATION AND TRANSACTION MACHINES (E.G., ATM AND FARE CARD
  MACHINES)
  C. EQUIPMENT USED FOR TRANSMITTING, RECEIVING, USING, OR STORING
  INFORMATION (E.G., FAX MACHINES, COPIERS, TELEPHONES, CALCULATORS)
  5. EXEMPTIONS.  EXEMPTIONS TO SECTION 508 REQUIREMENTS ARE:
  A. NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEMS AS DEFINED IN SECTION 5142 OF THE
  CLINGER-COHEN ACT OF 1996  (NOTE: SYSTEMS THAT ARE USED FOR ROUTINE    
      ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUSINESS APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING PAYROLL,
  FINANCE, LOGISTICS, AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS, ARE NOT
  EXEMPT.)
  B. UNDUE BURDEN (E.G., SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY OR EXPENSE) - AN
  EXCEPTION MAY BE APPLICABLE IF COMPLIANCE IMPOSES AN UNDUE BURDEN;
  HOWEVER, THE ORGANIZATION MUST PROVIDE JUSTIFICATION AND AN
  ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF ACCESS.  IN DETERMINING AN UNDUE BURDEN, AN
  AGENCY SHALL CONSIDER ALL AGENCY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE PROGRAM
  OR COMPONENT FOR WHICH THE PRODUCT IS BEING DEVELOPED, PROCURED,
  MAINTAINED OR USED.
  C. COMMERCIAL NONAVAILABILITY - WHEN ACQUIRING COMMERCIAL ITEMS, AN
  UNDUE BURDEN DETERMINATION IS NOT REQUIRED TO ADDRESS STANDARDS THAT
  ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE IN THE COMMERCIAL MARKETPLACE IN TIME TO MEET
  THE AGENCY DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS. THE REQUIRING OFFICIAL MUST
  DOCUMENT THE NONAVAILABILITY AND PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTATION TO THE
  CONTRACTING OFFICER FOR INCLUSION IN THE CONTRACT FILE.
  D. EIT THAT IS ACQUIRED BY A CONTRACTOR INCIDENTAL TO A CONTRACT
  E. PRODUCTS LOCATED IN SPACES FREQUENTED ONLY BY SERVICE PERSONNEL    
      FOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR OR OCCASIONAL MONITORING OF EQUIPMENT
  F. ACCESSIBILITY-RELATED SOFTWARE OR ATTACHMENT OF ASSISTIVE
  TECHNOLOGY DEVICES AT WORKSTATIONS OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WITHOUT
  DISABILITIES
  G. PRODUCTS OR SERVICES WHERE MEETING THE STANDARD WOULD REQUIRE
  FUNDAMENTAL ALTERATION TO THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OR PURPOSE OF
  THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE ITSELF
  H. LEGACY SYSTEMS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE AND/OR ARE NOT
  ALTERED OR UPGRADED, OR ARE SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED (I.E., A
  REPLACEMENT SYSTEM IS IN DEVELOPMENT)
  6. EACH MARFOR AND SEPARATE MAJOR COMMAND (E.G., MCCDC, MATCOM,
  MARCORSYSCOM, ETC.) IS DIRECTED TO ASSIGN A POINT OF CONTACT (POC)
  FOR SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE ACTIONS AND PROVIDE POC INFORMATION TO
  THE C4 POC LISTED ABOVE NLT 2 APR 2001. COMMAND/ORGANIZATION POCS
  SHOULD BE INDIVIDUALS OF SIMILAR RANK AND EXPERTISE AS THOSE
  PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED TO Y2K COMPLIANCE. ADDITIONALLY, ALL
  COMMANDS/ORGANIZATIONS WITH A WEB SITE AND/OR EIT PROCESSES THAT
  FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF SECTION 508 SHOULD ASSIGN A POC FOR SECTION    
      508 COMPLIANCE AND SHOULD COORDINATE THEIR COMPLIANCE ACTIONS VIA
  THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND.
  7. DUE TO THE SCOPE OF THIS EFFORT, IT IS ENVISIONED THAT THE
  MARINE CORPS WILL NOT BE IN COMPLETE COMPLIANCE BY THE 21 JUN 01
  DEADLINE. HOWEVER, A GOOD FAITH EFFORT MUST BE UNDERWAY. TO THAT
  END, EACH MARFOR AND SEPARATE MAJOR COMMAND (E.G., MCCDC, MATCOM,
  MARCORSYSCOM, ETC.) IS DIRECTED TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF MEETING
  THESE COMPLIANCE STANDARDS. THE RESULTS OF THIS ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE
  FORWARDED TO THIS OFFICE BY 30 MAY 01. THIS ASSESSMENT SHOULD
  ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING AREAS, AT A MINIMUM: FINANCIAL IMPACT;
  OPERATIONAL IMPACT; ANTICIPATED LEVEL OF EFFORT: IMPACT ON
  PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. PROCUREMENT ACTIONS CURRENTLY
  UNDERWAY THAT MAY BE APPROVED ON OR AFTER 21 JUN 01 WILL NEED TO BE
  ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE COMPLIANCE LANGUAGE.  COMMANDS
  WILL ALSO NEED TO REVIEW/UPDATE THEIR COMPLAINT AND REPORTING
  PROCEDURES FOR ACCESSIBILITY-RELATED ISSUES, SEE HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH
  WWW.USDOJ.GOV/CRT/COR/COORD/INVMANUAL.HTM.    
      8. SHORT-TERM REQUIREMENT.
  A. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A BIENNIAL
  STATUS REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS REGARDING AGENCIES'
  PROGRESS TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 508. THE FOCUS OF THIS
  YEAR'S DOJ SURVEY IS THE ACCESSIBILITY OF FEDERAL AGENCIES' WEB
  SITES. THE DOJ HAS TASKED DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES TO SURVEY TWENTY HIGH
  USE WEB SITES. WITHIN THE DON'S REQUIREMENT, FIVE USMC WEB SITES ONLY
  HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY. THESE WEB SITES ARE:
  (1) USMC OFFICIAL WEB SITE - HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.USMC.MIL
  (2) MARINE CORPS SYSTEMS COMMAND - HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH
  WWW.MARCORSYSCOM.USMC.MIL
  (3) MARINE FORCES PACIFIC - HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.MFP.USMC.MIL
  (4) MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY - HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.MCU.USMC.MIL
  (5) MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE - HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH
  WWW.LEJEUNE.USMC.MIL
  B. THE DOJ SECTION 508 HOME PAGE IS LOCATED AT HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH
  WWW.USDOJ.GOV/CRT/508/. INSTRUCTIONS AND AN ELECTRONIC COPY
  OF THE SURVEY CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH
  WWW.USDOJ.GOV/CRT/508/WEB.HTM. IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY, A    
      USER NAME AND PASSWORD WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE RESPECTIVE COMMANDS
  WITH PURVIEW OVER THESE WEB SITES. THESE COMMANDS ARE DIRECTED TO
  FORWARD POCS FOR THESE WEB SITES TO THE C4 POC LISTED ABOVE NLT
  2 APR 2001. THE USER NAME AND PASSWORD WILL BE PROVIDED UPON THIS
  OFFICE RECEIVING POC INFORMATION. WEB MASTERS OF THESE FIVE WEB
  SITES ARE DIRECTED TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY ELECTRONICALLY NLT 5 APR
  2001 AND INFORM THIS OFFICE VIA EMAIL WHEN THIS ACTION IS COMPLETE.
  OTHER WEB MASTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW THIS SURVEY IN ORDER TO
  OBTAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOPE OF THIS EFFORT AND THE
  PROCESS FOR MEETING THE COMPLIANCE STANDARDS.  ALL WEB MASTERS
  SHOULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY TO ASSESS THEIR WEB SITES FOR COMPLIANCE
  AND WORK TOWARD MAKING THEIR WEB SITES COMPLIANT BY 21 JUN 01.
  9. C4, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DON CIO, WILL FACILITATE RAISING THE
  LEVEL OF SECTION 508 AWARENESS THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF TRAINING
  MATERIALS TO PROVIDE POCS WITH GUIDANCE CONCERNING THE TWO MAJOR
  AREAS IMPACTED BY THE LAW: WEB PAGE ACCESSIBILITY AND    
      EQUIPMENT/SOFTWARE ACCESSIBILITY.  IN ADDITION TO TRAINING, THE POC
  NETWORK WILL FACILITATE THE COORDINATION AND ATTAINMENT OF SECTION
  508 COMPLIANCE ACROSS THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.  LASTLY, THE PROGRAM
  EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (PEO-IT) IS WORKING WITH
  EDS, THE NAVY MARINE CORPS INTRANET (NMCI) PRIME CONTRACTOR, TO MAKE
  SOFTWARE/HARDWARE SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE UNDER THE NMCI CONTRACT.
  10. A COMPLETE COPY OF THE SECTION 508 STANDARDS MAY BE FOUND AT
  HTTP:DOUBLE SLASH WWW.ACCESS-BOARD.GOV/SEC508/508STANDARDS.PDF.
  PROVIDE POC INFORMATION TO MAJ O'NEAL, DSN 223-3518/3490, COM
  (703)693-3518/3490, EMAIL: ONEALMS@HQMC.USMC.MIL.//
  BT