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CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Charter
A. The Committee's Official Designation
The official designation of this federal advisory committee is the
"Consumer Advisory Committee" (CAC), formerly known as the
Consumer/Disability Telecommunications Advisory Committee.
B. The Committee's Objective and Scope of its Activities
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was intended to pave the way for a new
era of greater competition and consumer choice in telecommunications for all
Americans. In order to ensure that all Americans, including individuals with
disabilities and those representing underserved populations, such as tribal
nations and persons living in rural areas, have equal access to
telecommunications products and services, and to facilitate consumer
involvement and input into all activities of the Commission, the CAC is hereby
re-chartered pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
The mission of the Consumer Advisory Committee (hereinafter the
"Committee") is to make recommendations to the Federal
Communications Commission (hereinafter the "Commission") regarding
consumer issues within the jurisdiction of the Commission and to facilitate
the participation of consumers (including people with disabilities and
underserved populations, such as Native Americans and persons living in rural
areas) in proceedings before the Commission. Issues or questions to be
considered by the CAC will include, but are not limited to the following topic
areas:
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Access by People with Disabilities (e.g., telecommunications relay
services, video description, captioning, accessible billing, and access to
telecommunications products and services); and
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Consumer Protection and Education (e.g., cramming, slamming, consumer
friendly billing, bundling of services, Lifeline/Linkup programs, customer
service, privacy, telemarketing abuses, and outreach to underserved
populations such as Native Americans and persons living in rural areas);
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Implementation of Commission rules and Consumer Participation in the FCC
rulemaking process; and,
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Impact of New and Emerging Technologies (e.g., availability of
Broadband, digital television, cable, satellite, low power FM, and the
convergence of these and emerging technologies).
C. Period of Time Necessary for the Committee to Carry Out its Purpose
Initially, the CAC, formerly known as the Consumer/Disability
Telecommunications Advisory Committee, was established for a period of two (2)
years from the original charter date. This is the first renewal of the Charter
with amendments.
D. Official to Whom the Committee Reports
Chairman, Federal Communications Commission.
E. Agency Responsible for Providing the Necessary Support
The Federal Communications Commission will provide the facilities and
support staff necessary to conduct meetings of the CAC. Committee members will
not be compensated for their services. The Commission will, however, pay costs
associated with the provision of reasonable accommodations for people with
disabilities when such costs are directly associated with the conduct of the
Committee's meetings, or are directly associated with the conduct of
subcommittee meetings. Some examples of reasonable accommodations include sign
language interpreters, meeting agendas produced in Braille, and computer
assisted real-time transcription services (CART).
F. Description of the Duties for Which the Committee is Responsible
In keeping with its advisory role, the duties of the CAC will be to provide
general guidance to the Commission, and to gather data and information and to
perform those analyses that are necessary to respond to the questions or
matters before it.
G. Estimated Annual Operating Costs in Dollars and Staff Years
Annual operating costs associated with supporting the CAC's functions are
estimated to be $275,000, which includes Commission staff time equivalent to
2.25 FTE's.
H. Estimated Number and Frequency of Committee Meetings
The Committee shall meet a minimum of two (2) times per year. The Committee
is authorized to facilitate its work through informal subcommittees, which
shall report their activities and recommendations to the Committee as a whole.
It is anticipated that the work of subcommittees will be conducted primarily
through telephone calls, e-mail correspondence, and e-mail discussion lists.
Recommendations of subcommittees must be reported to the CAC as a whole, and
only as modified or ratified by the committee as a whole, may such
recommendations be included in the official record of the CAC's proceedings,
and reported to the Chairman of the Commission.
I. Committee's Termination Date
The Committee shall terminate two (2) years from the renewal date of this
charter, unless renewed prior to the termination date. A decision whether to
renew shall include input from the Committee members.
J. Membership
Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the
Commission in consultation with the Chairperson of the CAC and appropriate
Commission staff. Members will be selected to balance the expertise and
viewpoints that are necessary to address effectively the issues to be
considered by the CAC. Members will be recognized experts in their fields,
including but not limited to, consumer advocacy organizations, organizations
representing persons with disabilities, representatives of underserved
populations (e.g., rural organizations and tribal nations), equipment
manufacturers, telecommunications service providers (including wireless), and
broadcast/cable providers. Members should be prepared to attend a minimum of
two (2) meetings per year of the CAC, and are also expected to participate
regularly in the deliberations of subcommittees.
Members will have an initial and continuing obligation to disclose any
interests in, or connections to, persons or entities who are, or will be,
regulated by, or who have interests before the Commission.
K. Chairperson
The Chairperson of the Committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the
Commission. The Chairpersons of any subcommittees shall be appointed by the
Chairperson of the Committee.
L. Meetings
Meetings shall be open to the public and timely notice of each meeting
shall be published in the Federal Register, and shall be further publicized
through other appropriate vehicles. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance
with Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised, 10th edition, Perseus Books, ©
2000. Records of the proceedings will be kept, as required by applicable laws
and regulations. Meetings of the CAC will also be broadcast over the Internet.
M. Date of Renewed Charter
November 20, 2004.
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