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ICDRI in Support of ISOC/ISTF Position on Digital Signature Law
The International Center for Disability Resources on the
Internet is in full support of the statement below. Please note that the
shortcomings of this law will also effect those using alternate Internet access
devices such as cellular phones and PDAs. For further information please
see Cynthia Waddell's commentary.
INTERNET SOCIETY (ISOC) AND
INTERNET SOCIETAL TASK FORCE (ISTF)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Landmark U.S. Digital Signature Legislation Falls Short with
Regard to Persons with Disabilities
Washington, D.C.; July 3, 2000 - While praising passage of the Electronic
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (S761) by the U. S. Congress as a
significant step forward in many areas, the Internet Societal Task Force (ISTF)
and its parent organization, the Internet Society (ISOC), have expressed concern
that the legislation does not adequately take into account the needs of persons
with disabilities.
The issues involved are not only limited to persons with disabilities, but may
have an adverse impact on those people using alternate Internet access devices
such as cell phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).
Cynthia Waddell of the International Center for Disability Resources <http://www.icdri.org/>
and a leading member of the ISTF states: "For a person with a visual
disability to access an electronic contract, the document needs to be coded for
accessible web design when it is created. It would do well to follow the Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines posted by the W3C at <http://www.w3.org/WAI>."
Persons with visual impairments are at a disadvantage if a contract is not
properly encoded. In some cases, they may not be able to take advantage of the
benefits of digital signatures as a means to enhance the conduct of business and
commerce using the Internet. They also run the risk of entering into a legal and
enforceable contract that they may not able to fully comprehend. More alarming,
these consumers may not realize that they are unable to read portions of the
contract.
"We commend the U.S. Congress for this further recognition of, and support
for, the importance of the Internet in conducting day to day business,"
said Don Heath, President and CEO of the Internet Society. He added,
"However, if the Bill were to be amended to embrace accessible web design
so that the widest audience of consumers could benefit from electronic
contracts, it would result in a huge benefit for the disabled around the world,
and put the U.S. in a clear leadership position in this area. Likewise, we hope
that future laws in this venue address accessibility issues before they are
passed."
About ISOC/ISTF:
The Internet Society (ISOC) <http://www.isoc.org>
is a professional membership society with organizational and individual members
in over 170 countries. It provides leadership in addressing issues that confront
the future of the Internet, and is the organization home for the groups
responsible for Internet infrastructure standards, including the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), and the
Internet Research Task Force (IRTF).
The Internet Society is dedicated to ensuring the open evolution, development
and use of the Internet for the benefit of all peoples of the world, and to this
end assumes a leadership role in developing and disseminating Internet policy on
technical and societal issues worldwide, providing Internet education and
training, and striving to represent the best interests of the Internet and its
users. A network of Chapters in 60 countries (with many more in formation)
supports the work of the global organization.
The Internet Societal Task Force (ISTF) <http://www.istf.org>
is an open organization of people who are committed to furthering the mission of
the Internet Society (ISOC) and work to identify ways in which the Internet can
be a positive force in social and economic dimensions.
Contact:
ISTF:
Michael Burks
Internet Societal Task Force
5212 Covington Bend Drive,
Raleigh, NC 27613 USA
Tel: +1 919 870 8788
Email: mburks952@worldnet.att.net
ISOC:
Lance Laack
International Policy Coordinator
Internet Society
11150 Sunset Hills Road
Suite 100
Reston, VA 20190-5321
USA
Tel: +1 703 326 9880
Fax: +1 703 326 9881
4, rue des Falaises
CH-1205 Geneva
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 807 1444
Fax: +41 22 807 1445
Email: lance@isoc.org
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