OT: RE: [lug] IP: FCC forces Ham radio operators to use Windows (fwd from: dave at farber.net)

[Nate Duehr]

Sorry, I should have provided URL info.

(And you're right, it's a complete pain to find anything on that site.
Pretty ironic that they have "Communications" as part of their agency's
name... heh.)

Start here, http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/

Click on the "Online Filing" link, that's the one that tries to launch Java
that whined first.  I can't seem to find the other one again... argh... what
a site.

Each of the Orange buttons on that screen acts slightly differently in
different browsers.  It's a truly strange site.

And having the ULS system at the very bottom of their main page, considering
it's probably one of most frequently visted areas of the FCC website, is
just goofy -- they appear to want the front page listed alphabetically.  :-)

--
Nate WY0X


> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-admin at lug.boulder.co.us [mailto:lug-admin at lug.boulder.co.us]On
> Behalf Of Neal McBurnett
> Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 9:45 PM
> To: lug at lug.boulder.co.us
> Cc: nclug at nclug.org
> Subject: Re: [lug] IP: FCC forces Ham radio operators to use Windows
> (fwd from: dave at farber.net)
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 01, 2002 at 05:56:04PM -0700, Nate Duehr wrote:
> > Ah... found it.  In the ULS online pages for initial
> registration there's
> > an error message "This plugin only runs on Win95/NT."  So it's a plugin
> > thing.  And the pages for updates don't appear to use the plugin.
> >
> > There's probably a proper plugin for Linux out there, and it
> just needs to
> > be loaded... I'm not going to mess with it... but I am grumpy about the
> > issue ...
>
> Well I searched for a bit and didn't find a "initial registration"
> page, nor an error message.
>
> Could someone supply a URL for the offending page?  Knowing what the
> plugin is would help a lot....
>
>
> In the meantime, for those interested in Section 508 of the
> Rehabilitation Act, §1194.22 - below are some references and excerpts.
> It certainly goes a long way to helping promote interoperability
> as well as accessibility.
>
> They don't seem to have any discussion of the fact that many
> plugins require certain versions of Windows, to say nothing
> of not being available for Linux et.al.  But the commentary from a
> the governments "access board" does say that:
>
>  If a browser does not support [scripts or plug-ins with the
>  required features for accessibility], however, paragraphs (l)
>  and (m) require that some other method of working with the web page
>  must be provided.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Neal McBurnett <neal at bcn.boulder.co.us>
> http://bcn.boulder.co.us/~neal/
> GPG/PGP signed and/or sealed mail encouraged.  Keyid: 2C9EBA60
>
> http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/508standards.htm
>
>  Section 508 requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure,
>  maintain, or use electronic and information technology, they shall
>  ensure that the electronic and information technology allows Federal
>  employees with disabilities to have access to and use of information
>  and data that is comparable to the access to and use of information
>  and data by Federal employees who are not individuals with
>  disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the
>  agency.
>
>  Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities,
>  who are members of the public seeking information or services from a
>  Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that
>  is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals
>  with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the
>  agency.
>
>  ....
>
>  Comment. Adobe Systems expressed concern that completing some forms
>  requires a script or plug-in and interpreted the proposed rule as
>  prohibiting such items. They pointed out that there are other methods
>  of completing a form that would not require scripts or plug-ins, but
>  those methods require the constant transfer of information between
>  the client and server computers. Adobe noted that that method can be
>  extremely inefficient and can pose a security risk for the
>  individual's personal data.
>
>  Response. This provision does not forbid the use of scripts or
>  plug-ins and many of the existing products support these features. If
>  a browser does not support these features, however, paragraphs (l)
>  and (m) require that some other method of working with the web page
>  must be provided. As assistive technologies advance, it is
>  anticipated that the occasions when the use of scripts and plug-ins
>  are not supported will diminish significantly.
>
>
>
> Software Applications and Operating Systems (1194.21)
>   http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=12#Software
>
>  1194.22 (m) When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other
>  application be present on the client system to interpret page
>  content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that
>  complies with §1194.21(a) through (l).
>
>  1194.21 (l) When electronic forms are used, the form shall allow
> people using
>  assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and
>  functionality required for completion and submission of the form,
>  including all directions and cues.
>
>
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