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47 USC § 255 - Access by persons with disabilities 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s255"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "47 USC § 255 - Access by persons with disabilities"
title_number: 47
title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
section_number: "255"
section_name: "Access by persons with disabilities"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "COMMON CARRIERS"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "Development of Competitive Markets"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2025-08-11"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 255, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 75.)"
---

# § 255. Access by persons with disabilities

**(a)** **Definitions** As used in this section—

**1** **Disability** [^1]

The term “disability” has the meaning given to it by section 12102(2)(A)  of title 42.

See References in Text note below.

**(2)** **Readily achievable** section 12181(9) of title 42

The term “readily achievable” has the meaning given to it by .

**(b)** **Manufacturing** A manufacturer of telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment shall ensure that the equipment is designed, developed, and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.

**(c)** **Telecommunications services** A provider of telecommunications service shall ensure that the service is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable.

**(d)** **Compatibility** Whenever the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) are not readily achievable, such a manufacturer or provider shall ensure that the equipment or service is compatible with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, if readily achievable.

**(e)** **Guidelines** February 8, 1996

Within 18 months after , the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall develop guidelines for accessibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment in conjunction with the Commission. The Board shall review and update the guidelines periodically.

**(f)** **No additional private rights authorized** Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any private right of action to enforce any requirement of this section or any regulation thereunder. The Commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any complaint under this section.

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**Source Credit**: (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 255, as added Pub. L. 104–104, title I, § 101(a), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 75.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was amended generally by , , , and, as so amended, provisions formerly appearing in par. (2)(A) are now contained in par. (1)(A).