Recognizing WSIS Impacts

WTDC RESOLUTION 70 (Hyderabad, 2010)

Regional initiative for Central and Eastern Europe on “E-accessibility (Internet and digital television) for persons with disabilities”

The World Telecommunication Development Conference (Hyderabad, 2010),

• considering
  • a) that access to the Internet and to television broadcasting service is difficult for persons with disabilities1, in particular those with visual and hearing impairments;
  • b) that assistive technologies (hardware and software) which provide value-added access services for persons with disabilities are already available on the market and are subject to further research and development;
  • c) that the switch-off of analogue terrestrial television within the European Union by 2012 represents both a challenge and an opportunity for enhanced access to digital television (DTV) services for persons with disabilities, in particular those with visual and hearing impairments,
• noting
  • a) that Resolution 54 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) of this conference encourages ICT applications and regional cooperation;
  • b) that Resolution 20 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) of this conference establishes that access to ICT facilities and services should be of non-discriminatory nature;
  • c) that Resolution 50 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) of this conference requires optimal integration of information and communication technologies,
• further noting
  • a) Resolution 70 (Johannesburg, 2008) of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly relating to telecommunication/information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility for persons with disabilities;
  • b) Resolution 58 (Hyderabad, 2010) of this conference, on access to ICT for persons with disabilities, including persons with age-related disabilities,
• recognizing
  • a) that the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) acts as a facilitator for regional cooperation in the deployment of value-added innovative interactive ICT applications by taking into account progress in ICT technology;
  • b) that ITU Member States are formulating relevant national and regional e-strategies and policies for the development of Internet and innovative interactive DTV applications,
• resolves
  • 1 that ITU-D should, with extrabudgetary resources, initiate, implement and finalize a regional initiative project on “E-accessibility (Internet and DTV) for persons with disabilities” in Central and Eastern Europe;
  • 2 that the completion of this project should be no later than end of 2012,
• invites Member States and Sector Members, in particular from the European region
  • to share and contribute their own experiences and resources for the introduction and deployment of innovative assistive technologies and services relevant to this regional initiative,
• instructs the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau
  • 1 to implement a step-by-step approach, starting with the category of persons with visual and hearing impairments;
  • 2 to extend this initiative, as a second step, to other categories of persons with disabilities;
  • 3 to coordinate the activities under resolves above;
  • 4 to take all the necessary actions to resolve any problems that are encountered;
  • 5 to disseminate to the ITU community the results and lessons learned from the implementation of this regional initiative.