In the US Department of Commerce report "The Growing Digital Divide In Access For People With Disabilities: Overcoming Barriers To Participation", the point is made that "The transformation of the Internet from a text-based medium to a robust multi-media environment has created a crisis –a growing digital divide in access for people with disabilities."

But industry has begun to address this divide through development of accessibility tools and standards. While some baseline regulation can be effective in identifying a need for industry to accept certain practices, it can also have the effect of slowing technology innovation. Industry may become transfixed on addressing the requirements of compliance rather than "thinking out of the box".

While there is little argument that the current state of accessibility of the Web is not adequate, industry has made substantial progress in this area. Application of the ADA in its current form, without taking into consideration the progress made to date, could result in companies doing just what is necessary to comply to the law instead of furthering the advancement of technology.

Chairman Canady, and members of the Committee:

My name is Steven Lucas, and I am Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Privaseek, Inc. I am also a member of the Board of Directors of the US Internet Industry Association, and an Internet professional deeply concerned with the ability of disabled Americans to access and utilize the Internet and its content.

People with disabilities are in all professions. There are programmers, engineers, accountants, teachers, or researchers who have visual, auditory, or mobility disabilities. The number of people with disabilities needing computers to do their work or improve their lives is increasing.

Most people experience a period of disability during their lifetime. Twenty five percent of people will experience a period of disability by age fifty-five. The percentage increases with age. Most of us will experience the effect of a broken bone that requires a cast or an injury that in some way impairs our ability to function in the way we are accustomed to. There are additional situations where we experience similar problems that people with disabilities face. If you're working somewhere there is an abundance of noise such as a plane, airport, or a factory, you may experience the same condition as someone who is hearing impaired. Sometimes technology "glitches" cause us to modify the way we work. If we have a broken mouse, we may have to rely on the keyboard just as someone who's blind or quadriplegic might.

Anyone can experience conditions that impose limitations that mimic a disability, and be forced to rely on the same sorts of solutions that are required by many of the disabled population. It is estimated that one in five people will experience a disability at some point in their lives. These numbers are sure to increase as our population ages. Perhaps that puts accessibility into another perspective.

The benefits of accessible web design extend beyond the community of people with disabilities. It eliminates the economic barriers to those who cannot afford expensive computers by enabling the use of inexpensive and less complex technology to access the Internet. For example, people who are cannot read can access the Internet by using screen readers that can convert text to voice and read out loud the content from accessible web pages.

The population of older U.S. citizens is one of the fastest growing populations that are attempting to take advantage of the Internet. Many older individuals will be impacted by the lack of accessibility as the aging process results in the need for a Web that can accommodate their special needs.

The evolution of and the increase in the use of the Internet as a mechanism for employment, education, communication, and commerce require us to consider the technology barriers encountered by users of the incredibly important and empowering communication medium. Over 70% of people with disabilities who are willing and able to work are unemployed. Dr. James Caldwell, the Chair of the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, notes "The current potential for providing access to professional education and employment opportunities to people with disabilities is unprecedented. The current potential for using technology to level the playing field for people with disabilities is unprecedented. We must create systematic ways for communities to realize that potential." The World Wide Web can be a powerful means of providing knowledge and economic power to people with disabilities. Ecommerce is a major initiative on the Internet. However, many potential e-customers who require the use of assistive computer technology will not be able conduct web transactions if the design of the content on the Internet does not accommodate the functional requirements of accessible Web page design.

Companies are spending large sums of money on infrastructure and technology to attract more consumers and improve the Internet users experience. These expenditures will not benefit millions of users if they are unable to take advantage of them due to content that is inaccessible by design. The term accessible needs to come to mean that when a user visits a Web site, they will be able to take advantage of the growth and innovation of the Internet regardless of their particular disability or the way they access Internet.

The Internet has become a place of public accommodation. Many state and local governments are transitioning to the Internet to process a variety of administrative services such as license renewals and to receive and send information via e-mail to facilitate constituent communications. If we are making these transitions using taxpayer money, we must make sure that those who are paying for the transition can participate.

The US government has taken a leadership position by implementing accessibility guidelines aimed at ensuring that web sites operated by firms doing business with government agencies are fully usable by people with disabilities. Once implemented, these changes are likely to have sweeping affects on commercial sites as well.

The lack of accessibility of the Internet makes it difficult to count the number of people with disabilities who would like to use the Web. It is impossible to determine the numbers of individuals with disabilities that would like to take advantage of the web when they are being denied access and the resulting ability to be counted.

In the US Department of Commerce report "The Growing Digital Divide In Access For People With Disabilities: Overcoming Barriers To Participation", the point is made that "The transformation of the Internet from a text-based medium to a robust multi-media environment has created a crisis –a growing digital divide in access for people with disabilities."

Technology innovation and the changing landscape of the web have had a substantial impact on the number of individuals who can access the Web. The widespread use of graphical images in content and advertising has resulted in a new problem for some disabled Web users. Until the last few years, people with visual disabilities were able to access the Internet with their screen readers audibly reading aloud the text on a web page. Today, graphical web pages present a barrier if they do not incorporate accessible web design. In their practical guide to the information economy for executives and policymakers, "Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy", authors Shapiro and Varian point out that "[t]oday more than 60 percent of Internet traffic is to Web Sites, and of the Web traffic, almost three-fourths is images." Some users have resorted to turning the graphics feature of their browsers off. Many sites become essentially useless without the graphics because the site doesn't have enough information in text format to describe the graphic.

The effect of the lack of an accessible Web is not limited to people with visual and mobility disabilities. People with certain learning disabilities are also finding that they can no longer use screen readers with text to audio capabilities to access some Web sites. People with cognitive disabilities are having difficulty accessing the Web to the lack of navigation elements at Web sites. People with hearing disabilities cannot access the content of audio streaming and video clips that are posted on the Internet due to the absence of captioning.

Many commercial web-authoring tools do not have the capability for webmasters to correct accessible web design problems. In fact, many current web-authoring tools on the market make it extremely difficult to even design an accessible web page. This deficiency in these tools results in webmasters and application programmers not being exposed to technology that teaches them how to code an accessible web page. The problem is even more difficult for a Webmaster who is disabled. There is a serious lack of web authoring tools and applications that can be utilized by this population of individuals. Disabled developers can posses not only the skills necessary to create accessible pages, but the life experience that can possibly add insight into this process. This is especially true for webmasters and application developers with mobility disabilities requiring voice, eye tracking or keyboard input/output features in web authoring applications.

In the early days of the Internet, it was all text-based and universally accessible. The Web has now become a place full of graphical images, clicks, online forms, animated text, and music. These can all be obstacles to accessibility. People with limited or no physical mobility use a keyboard or voice input; those who are blind or visually impaired use a keyboard or voice input in combination with a text screen reader. A Web site that can't be navigated without a mouse, or does not contain a description in test format about the graphics will cause some of the disabled population to abandon efforts to view the content of a site.

A recent Internet news story about accessibility showed that many Web developers have a negative reaction to the idea of accessible design. This is based on their belief that these standards will limit their creativity. Accessibility techniques are not designed to limit the creativity of designer. The creation of accessible Web pages will allow more people to experience their creations. Developing an accessible Web site does mean a developer must abandon artistic presentation or professional look. The artistic nature of the site will not be affected if the site is created with text-only pages first. Once the text version is created and tested for accessibility, the images and other artistic design features can be added. The site will then be accessible to most screen readers and text to voice translators. Many web sites that have won awards for their designs are also fully accessible.

There is still a lack of knowledge among Internet professionals about how to realize the full potential of the Internet by providing access to the Web to people with disabilities. While tools are still lacking many features, there are affordable and easy-to-use tools available. These tools along with accessible design techniques can make Web sites dramatically more accessible to people with a variety of disabilities. The use of accessibility based design tools can make the information on a company web site available to the millions of people with disabilities.

The experts tend to agree that universal design is good for everyone. According to Kelly Pierce, the co-founder of "Digit-Eyes," the Chicago blind computer users network, and who serves on the Techwatch committee for the National Council on Disability, "when World Wide Web sites are accessible to people with disabilities, they are highly usable and accessible to everyone else as well." He continues: "As the Web matures and grows in popularity, webmasters can be less and less certain that the visitor is using the latest version of Navigator or Explorer." In other words, accessible Web design also assures "backwards compatibility" with older Internet browser software. But it’s not just older technology that benefits from good design. Many newer ways to access the Internet benefit greatly from universal design, "people may be online with their Palm Pilot, or on Web TV, or browsing using their telephone. The closer companies and other organizations design their sites to HTML standards, the more accessible they are to people with disabilities and everyone else," says Pierce.

There are many examples of the need to address the non-conventional methods of accessing the web. Smart Cards are a good example of such a requirement. Smart cards, whether they are in the shape of credit cards, keys or rings, or demand vision to access digital displays of random password entry numbers for operation, require accessible design considerations. As businesses and governmental agencies increase their investment in these products for security or employee identification reasons, the number of consumers and employees impacted by the lack of accessible design will increase. Solutions are needed to address this problem.

Household Appliances are yet another example. Digital components with touch screen or flat screen displays are bringing common household appliances into the digital age. Unfortunately, consumers with disabilities are finding they cannot use these appliances. Whereas household appliance switches and knob settings can be brailed so that people with visual disabilities can operate the appliances, this solution is not available for appliances utilizing digital operational displays. Some of the common household appliances converting to a digital operation display include stoves, microwaves, dishwashing machines, and clothes washing/drying machines.

There are many companies that are developing technical solutions that will assist disabled users on the Web. A few examples of these types of initiatives are:

IBM has been a leader in the development of products that address the needs of the disabled community. These products include the Healthy Computing – Keyboard, IBM Healthy Computing Ergonomics Accessories, Screen Reader/2 Languages, FTP for Home Page Reader, IBM PC DOS: PC DOS for Special Needs, Screen Magnifier/2, and

SpeechViewer III, which is a powerful speech and language tool that transforms spoken words and sounds into imaginative graphics.

FutureForms, Inc. a division of Pummill Business Forms, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan, introduced Verbal-eyes (patent pending), a new assistive technology software which enables visually impaired persons to fill out forms online. Since many visually impaired persons use a screen reader, the Verbal-eyes program is designed to scan the user’s PC to determine if a screen reader is present and active. If a screen reader is active, the software will actually decipher the form on the screen for the user. If no screen reader is active, then the software will remain quiet and allow the user to complete the form. The Verbal-eyes program was mentioned by Business Week magazine as one of the most promising new products for the year 2000. For additional information on Verbal-eyes (patent pending) and other electronic form solutions, visit www.futureforms.com or www.pummill.com and link to FutureForms.

Microsoft has been making accessibility a consideration at every phase of the software development process. Microsoft’s Accessibility and Disabilities Group works closely with their product developers, as well as with disability advocates, to ensure that accessibility features are included in Microsoft products. Microsoft’s products contain features designed specifically for people with disabilities. Windows 98, Office 2000, the Internet Explorer feature in Windows, and the soon-to-be-released Windows 2000 all contain features that make them usable by people with a variety of disabilities. For example, Windows 98 includes an Accessibility Wizard for easier screen, keyboard and navigation customization. Microsoft Windows 2000 features several useful new accessibility tools, such as the Narrator, On-screen Keyboard and Magnifier to help people with disabilities who do not have full-featured accessibility aids available.

There are several browsers that have been specifically designed for people with disabilities. Some examples include:

• AVANTI Browser: Developed by the AVANTI Project, this browser provides for some of the diverse needs of elderly and disabled people and covers a range of disability-specific requirements.
• BrookesTalk: This browser under development by Oxford Brookes University focuses on facilitating intelligent web searching. It also provides speech output, screen-magnification.
• EIAD: A browser from Sarsfield Solutions, which provides enhancements specifically for people with special needs and learning difficulties. It provides touch-screen and a simplified language interface.
• EMACSPEAK: The speech-enabled environment for EMACS, runs under UNIX or LINUX, includes full web browsing capabilities through W3. It provides speech output and a simple keyboard interface.
• HomePage Reader: The speech-based browser from IBM, using Netscape as its engine. It provides speech output and a simple keyboard interface based on number-pad.
• Marco Polo: A plug-in for Netscape Navigator from Sonicon with speech and auditory icons. It provides speech output, audio icons and a simple keyboard interface.
• MultiWeb: Disability-specific browser developed at Deakin University. It provides speech output, screen magnification, and scanning for switch devices.
• PwWebSpeak: The first and longest established low-vision browser from the Productivity Works. It provides speech output, synchronized speech and screen magnification, and simple keyboard interface.
• Sensus Internet Browser: A low-vision Internet browser from Sensus in Denmark. It provides speech output, Braille support, and special screen fonts.
• Simply Web 98: A talking interface using the Internet Explorer engine. It provides speech output and a simple keyboard interface.
• VIP InfoNet: A low-vision browser from JBliss Inc. It provides screen magnification and speech output.

A screen-reader is used to allow navigation of the screen presented by the operating system, using speech or Braille output, and should therefore enable use of any mainstream application. In the context of browsing this usually means that they are used in conjunction with Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or, less often, with one of the other non-disability-specific browsers such as LYNX and Opera.

• ASAW from Microtalk: (DOS, Windows 95/98) speech.
• HAL from Dolphin: (DOS, Windows 95/98 and NT) speech and Braille.
• JAWS For Windows from Henter-Joyce: (DOS, Windows 95/98 and NT) speech and Braille.
• OutSpoken from Alva: (Windows 95/98, Macintosh) speech and Braille.
• Simply Talker from Econonet: (Windows 95/98) speech.
• Slimware Window Bridge from Synthavoice: (DOS, Windows 3.x and 95/98) speech and Braille.
• Window-Eyes from GWMicro: (DOS, Windows 3.x and 95/98) speech.
• WinVision from Artic: (Windows 3.x and 95/98) speech.

There are many browsers with adaptive technology. These browsers are all designed for general use, but are of interest because they may give enhanced accessibility in combination with particular adaptive systems.

• AMAYA: This is W3C's test-bed browser, implementing emerging web technologies. There are versions for Windows 95/98, Windows NT and UNIX.
• ARACHNE: This is a graphical browser for MS-DOS.
• LYNX: This is a popular text-based browser for UNIX, Windows 95/NT and MS-DOS allowing flexible and powerful text-based access from older platforms.
• Net-Tamer: This package runs under MS-DOS and includes both text-based and graphical browsing capabilities.
• Opera: This compact browser for Windows 95/98 offers enhanced keyboard navigation and screen magnification.

These are systems that allow voice-driven navigation, some with both voice-in and voice-out, and some allowing telephone-based web access.

• ConversaWeb: Voice-activated browser that allows spoken selections of links using "saycons".
• PwTelephone: A telephone-based browser using the telephone keypad as an interface to navigate suitably configured pages.
• SpeecHTML: A subscription service from Vocalis, allowing a participating site to provide telephone access using voice commands.
• TelWeb: An experimental telephone-based browser allowing access to any site using voice and dialed commands.
• Web On Call: Voice-driven browser allowing telephone access to enabled sites.

Perhaps the most significant effort to provide accessibility guidelines is the effort at the World Wide Web Consortium. The Web Accessibility Initiative has been leading the effort in this area. On May 5, 1999 the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) announced the release of the "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 specification as a W3C Recommendation. This significant development provides a stable specification that has been reviewed and recommended by the W3C Membership as a tool for making web sites accessible. As Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web aptly states: "The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect." The W3C Recommendation is evidence of the W3C commitment to lead the way to full participation on the Web for everyone and is an important step since the launch of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) April 1997 in the County of Santa Clara, California. The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) recognizes the problem of barriers on the Web for people with disabilities and is committed to pursuing solutions through five primary activities:

• Ensuring that Web technologies support accessibility
• Developing guidelines for accessibility
• Developing tools to evaluate and facilitate accessibility
• Conducting education and outreach
• Monitoring and engaging in research and development

The WAI technical activity addresses technology, guidelines and tools coordinated through the International Program Office. For example, in the technology arena, WAI has identified the following areas for accessibility needs: HTML, Style Sheets, Multimedia, MathML, DOM, XML, Graphics, Mobile Access, and Internationalization. Currently there is a Protocols and Formats Working Group as well as an HTML/CSS Review Working Group. There has been an increasing interest in creating accessible Web sites particularly since the May 1999 release of W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, and a correspondingly greater demand for tools that produce accessible content. Implementation of ATAG 1.0 will contribute to the proliferation of accessible Web content. "Most content on the web is created using authoring tools. If authoring tools seamlessly guide authors in creating accessible content, the wealth of information on the Web will become more accessible," said Jutta Treviranus, Chair of the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines Working Group and Director of the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre at the University of Toronto. "Just as important, the Web as a means of expression should not be reserved for people without disabilities. These guidelines promote authoring tools that create content that is accessible, and authoring tools that are usable by people with disabilities, thereby cultivating a World Wide Web that we can all participate in.".

There are also resources available to assist sites in evaluating their sites accessibility. Some of the resources available are:

Listed below are some resources that may be helpful in creating pages that are accessible.

In addition to the resources listed, several activities have taken place that have advanced the issue of accessibility. These include:

• The IBM Accessibility Center (formerly IBM Special Needs Systems) has developed a set of IBM Accessibility Guidelines.
• Organized by MAIN, Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, Easter Seals, and Knowbility - AIR-Austin made the high tech community sit up and take notice as some of the city's most talented folks signed on to design web sites for more than twenty nonprofit groups - in one day!
• More than 175 people on 22 teams participated in AIR-Austin, the annual web competition sponsored by IBM, Powershift Group, Infotec, Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, and Applied Materials.

While there are a number of potential ways to regulate accessibility of information technologies, these generally fall into three categories.

• Government can establish that individuals with disabilities have a right to certain kinds of information.
• Government can require that products or services sold within a country must meet certain criteria for accessibility.
• Government can require that information technologies and information services procured by entities such as government agencies must be accessible.

The first approach that regulates access to certain kinds of information by individuals with disabilities as a civil right, such as in Australia, Canada, and the United States is more common. However, sometimes we see combinations of these approaches, or, as in the United States, all three approaches in effect. Recently, as in Portugal and Thailand, there are efforts to introduce legislation directly requiring Web accessibility. As the Web becomes an increasingly important medium for education, employment, commerce, and government, the trend is towards requiring that this technology to be accessible to people with disabilities who constitute a significant part of every country's population.

The newly revised Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 now imposes strict accessibility requirements for electronic and information technology developed, maintained, procured, or used by federal agencies. As part of the Section 508 implementation effort, on April 2, 1999 Attorney General Janet Reno directed that all federal agencies conduct self-evaluations of their electronic and information technology and report by June 15, 1999 the extent to which their electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. This Section 508 compliance package includes a number of accessibility checklists for software, web page, information technology machines, (ITM) and information technology (IT) equipment as well as a Resource Guide.

The definition of electronic and information technology under Section 508 includes: computers, hardware, software, web pages, facsimile machines, copiers, telephones and other equipment used for transmitting, receiving, using or storing information. It is expected that by February 7, 2000 the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) will issue standards that will define what is meant by electronic and information technology and will set forth the technical and functional performance criteria for accessibility implementation.

The evolution of our disability rights laws have resulted in the understanding that access to information and communication is a civil right for people with disabilities. Some of the current federal statutes and their implementing regulations that protect this civil right include:

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986
• Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (Tech Act
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
• Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1990
• Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (EAHCA)
• Handicapped Infants and Toddlers Act
• Telecommunications Act of 1996
• Section 121 of the U.S. Copyright Law
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

ADA compliance should not be the only reason to make a web site fully accessible. While some baseline regulation can be effective in identifying a need for industry to accept certain practices, it can also have the effect of slowing technology innovation. Industry may become transfixed on addressing the requirements of compliance rather than "thinking out of the box". Solutions may be rushed to market that do not have the quality that would come from a well-engineered product. While there is little argument that the current state of accessibility of the Web is not adequate, industry has made substantial progress in this area. Application of the ADA in its current form, without taking into consideration the progress made to date, could result in companies doing just what is necessary to comply to the law instead of furthering the advancement of technology.

Many sites will focus on avoiding litigation instead of addressing the real need of disabled net citizens to have access to the valuable content they provide. The cost of potential litigation could prevent some web sites from coming online. The application of the ADA to the Internet should not occur until industry has been given an opportunity to address the issues of accessibility in a commercial and competitive environment. Incentives for early adopters of accessible technology might increase the speed at which this occurs.

Before the ADA is applied to the Web, the state of current technology should be considered. A period of discussion and review should occur and appropriate amendments made to the existing ADA legislation that reflects the specific requirements of the Internet.

Industry must begin to understand why accessibility important to Web based companies. There are many sound business reasons why web site should care about accessibility. Providing accessible sites is a way to add tens of millions of potential customers, as well as their friends, their relatives, and their employers. According to Microsoft, studies show that each person with a disability has an average of five people who care about, them, and people tend to purchase software that works for the people they care about. I hope that we can all agree that an economic motive would work better rather than the threat of legal action based on a legislative initiative.

Many companies want a standard configuration that works for everyone, including staff members with disabilities. Accessible design also improves general usability. People feel more comfortable and are more likely to enjoy what they're doing when the software lets them work the way they choose. Screens that are easy to read and controls that are easy to manipulate make it easier for everyone. They are just more important for people with disabilities.

In fact, many things that we all have grown to appreciate started out specifically for people with disabilities. The ramps cut into curbs, easy-open containers, and even the bell and light that tell you when the elevator is arriving are just a few examples of the conveniences that we use every day.

The continued practice of the inaccessible design of Internet web sites, Internet Service Providers, browsers, and ecommerce sites must be addressed before it is too late to allow many individuals with disabilities to take advantage of the digital economy. Technology is not the issue. There are new and exciting developments in the fields of information appliances, real-time conference participation, audio streaming, telephone voice browsers, search engines, news groups, chat rooms and 3-D imaging. If the ubiquitous deployment and acceptance of web design and development solutions that support the issue of accessibility and are not embraced soon, the digital divide may become impossible to bridge.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law in 1990, requires that government provide individuals with disabilities access to public places. This has resulted in the construction of new ramps, wider doorways, new elevators and Braille signs where needed. All of these allow and even encourage everyone to participate in the services these facilities provide. The Internet should also encourage and invite everyone to participate in the growth and future of the Web.

We have found ways to design buildings so that people who use wheelchairs can navigate doorways and enter buildings that were once inaccessible to them. Using our collective intelligence and a willingness to work towards a common goal, there are ways to assist our citizens with disabilities in their use of online communications. The techniques and tools are readily available to help create a Web that is flexible enough to meet the needs and preferences of the broadest range of users of computers and telecommunications equipment for our citizens with disabilities. Many of these disabled Web users use are also prospective customers, employees, and participants in online communities.

As the Internet becomes critically important to the daily lives of more people, as society creates greater opportunities to learn, to work, and to pursue leisure activities on the World Wide Web, we can't afford to exclude anyone with a desire to take advantage of this rich and rewarding experience. Especially when the means to include them is within our grasp.

Dr. Steven Lucas brings over 18 years of experience in the information technology industry to Privaseek, Inc. In his position, Dr. Lucas is responsible for leading Privaseek’s efforts in legislative and standards development. Privaseek has relied on Dr. Lucas’ ability to provide both technical and legal insight towards its privacy and electronic commerce objectives.

A critical objective for Dr. Lucas is to ensure that Privaseek maintains a leadership role with respect to consumer privacy. Creating a trusting environment for the exchange of information is imperative to the success of the Internet. That is why Dr. Lucas has taken a number of leadership roles within the industry’s leading organizations. This includes being the Editor of the Protocols and Data Transport Working Group on the Platform for Privacy Preferences Project (P3P) and the Chair of the Syntax and Encoding Group of P3P within the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Dr. Lucas is on the Board of Directors for TRUSTe, a leading organization to establish trust and confidence on the Internet. Dr. Lucas is on the Board of Directors of the US Internet Industry Association. He was also a member of the U.S. delegation to the European Union Data Directive and is a member of the U.S. Model Contract Working Group. Dr. Lucas is also a member of the U.S. Ecommerce Committee and the Trans Atlantic Business Dialogue (TABD).

In addition to his work mentioned above, Dr. Lucas is also the Co-Chair of the Institute IEEE Internet Best Practices Working Group and maintains advisory roles within the Direct Marketing Association, Internet Engineering Task Force, Internet Advertising Bureau, and the Web Accessibility Initiative within the W3C. In each of these organizations, Dr. Lucas has contributed towards industry self-regulation and standardization.

He is a member of the On-line Privacy Alliance, US Internet Industry Association, Computer Security Institute, International Computer Security Institute, International Data Warehouse Association, Internet Society, Association for Computing Machinery, and the Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers. He is also a Fellow of the International Computer and Law Institute.

He is a frequent speaker at industry events and has presented to the Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission on several occasions and is a member of the Presidential Summit Planning Committee. Dr. Lucas is considered an expert in the areas of privacy law, e-commerce, public policy, computer security, database marketing, and database technology.

Before joining Privaseek, Dr. Lucas was the CIO of MatchLogic and Excite. Prior to this position, Dr. Lucas was the Chief Technologist and Senior Principal Consultant for dbINTELLECT Technologies. Previous to working with dbINTELLECT, Dr. Lucas held positions with Neodata Services as the Chief Technology Officer, EDS as a Consultant Systems Engineer.

Dr. Lucas was also a Member of Technical Staff at AT&T Bell Labs where he participated in the design and development of the UNIX operating system. Dr. Lucas also contributed to the development of the Massive Open Systems Environment Standards, Simple Network Management Protocol, and the Portable Operating System Interface.

Dr. Lucas received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University. He also received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Citadel, a J. D. from Franconia College, and an MBA from New Hampshire College.

Steven Lucas does not currently have any federal grant, contract or subcontract, and has not had in the preceding two fiscal years.

The US Internet Industry Association does not currently have any federal grant, contract or subcontract, and has not had in the preceding two fiscal years.