[real-eyes] Fw: Summary of Blind Specific Provisions in new Telecom Law
- From: "Reginald George" <sgeorge@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2010 13:58:35 -0600
A little long, but for good reason. Great information here for any of us
interested in the future of access technologies.
FYI
----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Bridges
To: leadership@xxxxxxx ; announce@xxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 2:59 PM
Subject: [leadership] Summary of Blind Specific Provisions in Telecom Law
Below is a summary of the provisions contained in The Twenty-First Century
Communications and Video Accessibility Act which I am proud to say is now law.
As you will read, the law calls for regulatory implementation of several
provisions. I will be in touch in the coming months to provide further
information concerning ACB's advocacy at the FCC.
Eric
What the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of
2010 Will Do for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
Access to advanced communications services and equipment.
The legislation, as signed into law by the President:
· requires advanced communications equipment and services to be
accessible, if achievable. If not, then equipment and services must be
compatible with devices used by individuals with disabilities to achieve
access, if achievable. "Achievable" is defined as reasonable effort or expense,
as determined by the FCC.
· improves enforcement. The FCC must file regular reports with Congress
and requires an enforcement study by the Comptroller General. It also adds
recordkeeping obligations for equipment manufacturers and service providers.
· requires access to Internet services built-in to mobile telephone
devices, like smart phones, if achievable.
· requires a clearinghouse of information on accessible products and
services, and public education and outreach.
Video Description
a.. One year after the bill becomes law, it restores FCC rules requiring 4
hours per week of video description on 9 television channels (top 4 broadcast
networks and top 5 cable channels) in the top 25 most populated markets.
b.. Two years after the bill becomes law, the FCC is required to report to
Congress on video description.
c.. After four years the bill permits the FCC to increase video description
to 7 hours per week on 9 television channels.
d.. After six years, the FCC is required to apply the video description
requirements to the top 60 most populated markets (not just the top 25 most
populated markets).
e.. After nine years, the FCC is required to report to Congress on the need
for additional markets to carry video description.
f.. After 10 years, the bill permits the FCC to expand video description to
10 new markets annually to achieve 100 percent nationwide coverage.
The legislation requires video programming owners, providers, and distributors
to make emergency information accessible to individuals who are blind or have
low vision.
Devices designed to receive or play back video programming, using a picture
screen of any size, to be capable of delivering available video description,
and making emergency information accessible to individuals who are blind or
have low vision. Devices with picture screens less than 13" must meet these
requirements if achievable with reasonable effort or expense.
Devices designed to record video programming (such as DVRs) must enable the
rendering or pass through of video description and emergency information, so
viewers can turn the video description on/off when played back on a screen of
any size.
User Interfaces on Digital Apparatus
The legislation requires devices designed to receive or play back video
programming:
· to make controls of built-in functions accessible to and usable by
individuals who are blind or have low vision, if achievable;
· to provide access to video description features through a mechanism
that is reasonably comparable to a button, key, or icon designated for
activating accessibility features.
Access to Video Programming Guides and Menus Provided on Navigation Devices.
Cable/satellite set-top box on-screen text menus and guides must be audibly
accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision, if achievable.
Devices must provide access to built-in video description features through a
mechanism that is reasonably comparable to a button, key, or icon designated
for activating the accessibility features.
Other
The bill
· allocates up to $10 million per year from the Interstate Relay
Service Fund for equipment used by individuals who are deaf-blind.
· establishes an Emergency Access Advisory Committee to recommend and
for the FCC to adopt rules to achieve reliable and interoperable communications
with future Internet-enabled emergency call centers.
a.. establishes a Video Programming and Emergency Access Advisory Committee
to make recommendations about video description, accessible emergency
information, user interfaces, and video programming guides and menus.
Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
ebridges@xxxxxxx
www.acb.org
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