FCC Grants Accessibility Waiver to Fiat Chrysler for Rear Entertainment Systems

Fiat Chrysler received a retroactive waiver of FCC rules on accessibility of user interfaces for some of the automaker's vehicles made without an accessible rear entertainment system. More than 7,100 Dodge Journey vehicles were shipped without the audio files necessary for accessibility functions required by user interface rules due to a supplier error, and a Media Bureau order Monday said the company made good-faith effort to address the unsold ones, requiring any dealer first update the computer code allowing audio accessibility before selling one of the affected Journeys. The bureau granted the manufacturer a permanent waiver for the 4,400 noncompliant Journeys already sold as long as the company complies with consumer notification efforts within 30 days of grant of the waiver, letting them know about the free software update. The bureau said it received no comments or replies on the petition (see 1706200065).