Link text within text blocks without underline

Not sure where to put this comment and question about link text contrast within text blocks:

For links within text blocks without underline:

  1.  The link text must have a 3:1 contrast ratio from the surrounding non-link text.
  2.  The link must present a "non-color designator" (typically the introduction of the underline) on both mouse hover and keyboard focus.
These two requirements help ensure that all users can differentiate links from non-link text, even if they have low vision, color deficiency, or have overridden page colors.

So if you combine the requirements, in order to be Level AA conformant without underline, your links must have all of the following<http://webaim.org/blog/wcag-2-0-and-link-colors/>:
*A  4.5:1 contrast between the non-link text color and the background.
*A  4.5:1 contrast between the link text color and the background.
*A  3:1 contrast between the link text color and the surrounding non-link text color and

  1.  The link must present a "non-color designator" (typically the introduction of the underline) on both mouse hover and keyboard focus.
Questions: 1) hover and focus do not work on mobile so this additional non-color designator requirement cannot be met. Does this mean all links within text without underline fail on mobile?
                   2) Is the default dotted line that browsers provide a sufficient "non-color designator" on focus and hover? Is there any requirements for this "non-color designator"?


Joseph Sherman
Accessibility Specialist
CUNY Computing & Information Services
395 Hudson St 6FL, 6-236
646-664-2167|  Joseph.Sherman@cuny.edu<mailto:Joseph.Sherman@cuny.edu>