Throughout the TAAC process and the comment period for the NPRM it became evident that there was no available overview of the state of access to telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment. It also became evident that this information provided in a balanced manner would be beneficial for governmental agencies, industry and consumers. This first Market Monitoring Report is intended to be the initial baseline for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment and how they address the Access Board Guidelines. Over a period of time, the data collected for future Reports may be compared to earlier data to identify areas where progress is being made and where greater focus is needed.
The Access Board in its Final Rule noted that: “Information from [the Market Monitoring Report] will assist the Board in determining what provisions of the guidelines may need to be revised or whether new provisions need to be added. In particular, some issues will be targeted for examination, such as redundancy and selectability, the effect of hearing aid interference on bystanders, and whether persons with hearing impairments continue to report having trouble using public pay telephones.” [36 CFR 1193 - General Issues]
Members of the Telecommunications Access Advisory Committee recommended that the Market Monitoring Report (1) cite positive trends and progress and (2) identify deficiencies, trends or patterns of lack of access and areas needing further work. The Market Monitoring Report’s “primary purpose is to guide the application of resources to access issues. Hence, it should applaud areas where resources are being effectively applied and identify areas needing additional action, with suggestions as to the kinds of action needed.” [TAAC report section 6.8.2]
The Market Monitoring Report will assist consumers with disabilities in narrowing the field of those telecommunications products that have features that will enable them to use different telecommunications products. Consumers with disabilities will then have the responsibility to contact the appropriate manufacturer or sales outlet for further information in order to determine whether a particular product will work for them.