[Ham-Mac] FCC Discrimination Against Mac Users

[David Kelly]

On Sunday 18 May 2003 07:49 am, Richard Kriss wrote:
> A few months ago I tried to file an online license modification and
> the FCC web site at http://wireless2.fcc.gov/ barfed big time. I
> tried several different browsers.  I called the FCC for help as was
> told they are aware of the situation and FCC does not support the Mac
> OS. They suggested  I file by mail or get a PC.  At  that time the
> FCC had no plan to support the Macintosh OS.
>
> You can view some things on the FCC site but you cannot process an
> online modification with a Mac OS.

There are federal laws dictating access for the disabled. I suspect 
those laws may be worded such that agencies such as the FCC can not 
discriminate against Macintosh.

No doubt in my mind the failure you experienced with Macintosh as due to 
Microsoft "enhancements" to Java and/or Javascript. And/or the use of 
Active-X. Access of websites doesn't work for the blind if Java and/or 
Javascript is involved. I believe there has been some serious 
Javascript-removal on USDA websites as a result.

Find a blind ham or sight impaired who uses Macintosh and can not file 
the FCC's forms electronically and you'll get some action.

-- 
David Kelly N4HHE, dkelly@hiwaay.net
=====================================================================
The human mind ordinarily operates at only ten percent of its
capacity -- the rest is overhead for the operating system.