During its Oct. 22 meeting in Portland, the Code Council Board of Directors voted to accept the cdp ACCESS Steering Committee's report for the initiative to increase participation in ICC's code development process. Code Council Board Immediate Past President William D. Dupler, who also serves as a steering committee member, explained to Annual Conference delegates during the cdp ACCESS Forum that the Board will make a final decision on the recommendations at its meeting in December.

The concept of remote participation in ICC's code development process was first raised as early as 2003. In April 2011, the Code Development Review Ad-Hoc Committee recommended the initiative to the ICC Board, which confirmed the proposal later in the year. The first cdp ACCESS Steering Committee meeting was held in January.

"The evolution of this was a long time coming," Steering Committee Vice Chair Ron Burton told delegates during the forum. "The committee has done its best to bring all of the different views into place."

Through a series of webinars, surveys and events such as the forum, Dupler said the ICC Board has sought as much Member feedback as possible leading up to the Steering Committee's report. He said the majority of respondents support the cdp ACCESS initiative. "It's not just about having the money to travel to the hearings," Dupler explained, "it's also about having the time to do it."

Dupler and Burton answered questions and heard comments from delegates at the conclusion of the forum. For more information on the cdp ACCESS initiative, click here.