Clause 3 - General duties of OFCOM
Communications Bill
12:00 pm
Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham, Conservative)
With this it will be convenient to take the following: Amendment No. 154, in
clause 3, page 4, line 3, at end insert—
'(n) the desirability of promoting apparatus and services which are accessible to, and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible and to the greatest extent possible without the need for special adaptation or specialised design.'.
Amendment No. 139, in
clause 3, page 4, line 5, after 'consumers', insert ', including disabled, elderly and low income consumers,'.
Amendment No. 155, in
clause 3, page 4, line 6, after 'service', insert 'access'.
Amendment No. 158, in
clause 10, page 10, line 34, leave out second 'and'.
Amendment No. 140, in
clause 10, page 10, line 37, at end insert—
'(f) To promote awareness and understanding of the issues in paragraphs (a) to (e) above among people whose disabilities, age or personal circumstances might otherwise impede their access to information.'.
Amendment No. 159, in
clause 10, page 10, line 37, at end insert 'and
(f) to bring about, or to encourage others to bring about, a better public understanding of the educational and literacy benefits of electronic media services for those with disabilities including subtitling for persons who are deaf or hard of
hearing and audio-description for persons who are blind or partially-sighted.'.
Amendment No. 141, in
clause 12, page 13, line 6, at end insert—
'(6A) In particular, OFCOM shall give consideration to the advisability of authorising the Content Board to establish a committee or panel to advise on the interests of people with disabilities or special needs resulting from age or personal circumstances.'.
Amendment No. 156, in
clause 13, page 13, line 25, at end insert 'with particular regard for variations in consumer experiences as a result of disability, age or personal circumstances.'.
Amendment No. 142, in
clause 13, page 13, line 36, at end insert—
'(g) the extent and nature of variations in consumer experiences as a result of disability, age or personal circumstances.'.
Amendment No. 143, in
clause 17, page 18, line 43, at end insert—
'(4A) The committees established by the Panel shall include a committee representing the interests of disabled and elderly people; and any such committee shall include a majority of members who are themselves disabled people or of pensionable age.'.
Amendment No. 144, in
clause 23, page 22, line 18, at end add 'having regard to the need to make the information or advice accessible to persons with disabilities'.
New clause 5—Function of promoting inclusive design—
'(1) It shall be the duty of OFCOM to take such steps, and to enter into such arrangements, as appear to them calculated—
(a) To bring about a better awareness and understanding of inclusive design principles, techniques and standards among—
(i) the designers and manufacturers of apparatus designed or adapted for use in connection with electronic communications services or associated facilities; and
(ii) the providers of electronic communications services;
(b) To encourage the designers, manufacturers and service providers mentioned in paragraph (a) to adopt inclusive design principles and techniques in the development of new apparatus, facilities and services; and
(c) to bring about a better public awareness and understanding of inclusive design in relation to electronic communications apparatus, facilities and services.
(2) References in this section to ''inclusive design'' are references to designs which result in apparatus and services which are accessible to, and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible and to the greatest extent possible without the need for special adaptation or specialised design.
(3) References in this section to electronic communications services includes websites.'.