<div><p>Cardtronics, Inc., the nation's largest ATM operator, has reached a settlement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide significantly improved access for blind consumers to the company's machines.</p><p>Under the terms of the agreement, Cardtronics will increase the number of machines equipped with voice guidance technology to its fleet of over 23,000 ATMs nationwide and on more than 1,200 ATMs in the Bay State. </p><p>Over 35,000 blind persons in Massachusetts will benefit from the voice-guided machines, according to State Attorney General Martha Coakley. </p><p>The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act required ATMs to be made accessible to and independently useable by the blind. </p><p>The agreement resolves a 2003 lawsuit originally filed against E*TRADE Access, Inc. and E*Trade Bank. Cardtronics purchased the E*TRADE ATM fleet in June 2004. </p><p>The Attorney General's Office, in conjunction with the National Federation of the Blind and several blind consumers, filed the suit alleging that E*TRADE refused to make its entire ATM fleet accessible to blind consumers. </p><p>Cardtronics operates the nation's largest network of ATMs at "off-bank sites," including retail stores, gas stations, supermarkets and convenience stores, with additional locations in the United Kingdom and Mexico. </p><p>“We live in an age where certain technologies have become integral parts of our daily lives, and it is important that such technology is accessible to all members of society,” Coakley said. “We are pleased to have worked with the National Federation of the Blind to lead an effort that has resulted in thousands of ATMs across the country being made accessible to blind consumers." </p><p>Cardtronics will make all of the ATMs they own voice-guided by mid-2008. They further commit that by mid-2010, 90% of all of its transactions will be voice-enabled. Cardtronics will not renew any merchant's contract after mid-2010 unless the merchant's ATM is voice-guided, Coakley said. </p><p>“This landmark agreement will benefit blind people in the state of Massachusetts and throughout the nation by allowing us to conduct transactions in the same fast, convenient manner as our sighted peers,” said Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. </p><p>The settlement also provides that Massachusetts will receive $100,000 for the Local Consumer Aid Fund that finances local consumer mediation programs across the state, and the National Federation of the Blind will receive $900,000 towards its legal fees. </p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=29324749&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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