[a11y] Notes of Accessibility TF call for ISO standardization of EPUB accessibility, held on Oct 8, 2018

Dear all,

Accessibility task force had meeting for next steps for ISO standardization of EPUB Accessibility 1.0. The notes for the same follow:

Date: October 8, 2018
Attended by:
Makoto, Luc, Cristina, George and Avneesh

Action items:
George: Circulate the response that DAISY is planning for ISO EPUB Accessibility proposal.
Makoto: Get in touch with Matt regarding March 2019 ISo meeting in Japan, and discuss the rewriting of EPUB Accessibility for ISO.
Luc and Cristina: Get in touch with Francis for managing conflict with September 2019 TPAC.
Matt: Rewrite of EPUB accessibility specs, first draft is in Feb 2019.

Discussions and decisions:
Avneesh: The main topics to discuss today are:
1. What action we need to take for statement in ISO proposal regarding plans for EPUB accessibility spec going to rec track?
2. Conflict of September 2019 ISO meeting with TPAC.
3. Overview of the plan for ISO standardization of EPUB Accessibility 1.0.

Topic 1: Controversial statement in ISO proposal for EPUB Accessibility 1.0

George: In the Co-ordination of work section: the phrase appears, “But there are no plans to create W3C recommendations for EPUB Accessibility.”.

Makoto: In ISO, the scope of SC is carved in stone, and the scope of specifications group depends on SC.
In W3C each Standard starts with a charter, but in ISO each project is identified by a title and a number. The scope of a project is not so much formalized as in W3C.
The text of the new work item proposal will be thrown away once it is approved, and the plan ahead will be created by ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34/JWG7. So, this statement may not be concerning.
Avneesh: Summarizing Mokoto's description, it is not a big deal?
Makoto: I think so. The alternative will be to redo the whole proposal and submit it again for ballote. I do not think that this is such a pressing issue that should trigger the process again.
Luc: But ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34/JWG7 can amend it based on the comments.
Makoto: It makes sense to send comments. During the comment disposition of the new work item proposal, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34/JWG7 can agree that this sentence is inappropriate.  After approval of the proposal, we will create a committee draft, which will never say what W3C intends to do. 
George: I will be voting on behalf of DAISY. I am going to say yes to proposal and will provide comment for this sentence and also propose to use URL for W3C submission instead of IDPF URL. Avneesh, we need to send these two pieces?
Avneesh: Yes, I did some amendments to your comments. I think that we should share it with everyone so that all group members can give the same message.
Luc: Tomorrow we have publishing business group meeting, we should mention this tomorrow also.

George: Another question, there were some comments about dates of project?
Makoto: Yes, we cannot determine the timeline in proposal, SC 34 will decide the timeline. It was about that.
George: So, we will start from stage 20, beginning stage.

Topic 2: Conflict of dates of September 2019 ISO meeting with TPAC.

Makoto: Sorry for this conflict. ISO SC can be flexible about it, we can try to change the dates. May be we can have ISO SC meeting in Europe before or after TPAC, or we can have 3rd ISO SC meeting in Japan. It would be beneficial for W3C management and publishing group to attend ISO meetings also. But this will mean that we will need to move first ISO SC meeting to Europe, and it is a bigger thing because meetings of two committees is scheduled in first meeting. So, it will be a big deal.
Luc: The conflict of the dates is the biggest issue. Traveling from one location to another is second consideration.
Makoto: I intend to have ballot on EPUB Accessibility till May. This is why I have proposed first meeting in Japan. Both Japanese and Koreans will be present in that meeting. If we move first meeting to Europe then there would be delay in EPUB Accessibility ballot also, it may go to 2020.
Avneesh: We are going through ISO IS route because we want to give a Standard to industry as soon as possible. Right now EPUB accessibility 1.0 is a CG report, it is not a standard. The rec track in W3C would take some years, while ISO standardization can happen at faster rate.
Makoto: Then lets keep first ISO meeting in Japan. Luc and Cristina, you should meet Francis in Frankfort, for rescheduling September 2019 ISO meeting. He is the key person regarding this.

Topic 3: Overview of the plan for ISO standardization of EPUB Accessibility 1.0.

Makoto: after proposal is approved we need to rewrite EPUB accessibility 1.0 according to requirements of ISO.
Avneesh: What is the deadline, till which Matt should provide first draft?
Makoto: We want to finalize it till March/April 2019 so first draft should be complete till January or February 2019.
Avneesh: Ok, we also need to make decision for changes we need to do. Matt had concerns regarding moving schema.org accessibility metadata to techniques.
Makoto: Yes, this is why we want this discussion to happen in Japan so that we are present there.
Avneesh: Is our presence required in face to face meetings, or can we participate remotely?
George: Will traveling to meeting required?
Makoto: Not required but it would be good to be present there. I know it costs time, money and efforts. If Matt can attend June meeting (2nd SC 34 meeting), it would be good. It is in Canada. And it will be helpful if he can participate remotely in March 2019 meeting in Japan.
Avneesh: We need to check his availability. Lets discuss the rewriting of spec and possibility to travel with Matt.


With regards
Avneesh