Hi all. I'm sure that at some point I've mentioned the battle to get audio description included as a part of television, movies and live entertainment as a focus issue within the blindness movement. First, we got the great ruling by FCC requiring a certain amount of television programming to be audio described, and then we lost that advantage when this ruling was challenged by industry in court. Nevertheless, audio description by all major networks started in earnest last year subsequent to the FCC ruling and prior to the court decision. Now it seems that all three networks are planning to discontinue it. While I believe it is a legitimate civil rights issue under the ADA, I hold no great hope that the current administration will do much to promote it as a mandate. How can we make them look at this as a marketing issue? Is this something that iCan! can help with? Below is first the initial message alerting us as to the proposed cancellations, followed by the letter I've sent to all three networks. I'd like to hear some feedback. Thanks. Donna (From Barry Levine, President of Audio Description International, barry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) Hi Folks, I'm told that ABC and NBc intend to discontinue broadcasting described programming after March 31. Further, I'm told that CBS will continue only through grant funded activity. I cannot personally vouch for this information. However, I believe it. It comes from a credible source. While there is a more organized effort under way, we cannot allow this to go unchallenged by the grassroots consumer of audio description. If we want these networks to continue providing described TV programming, we must tell them. I'm also told that ABC, for example, has received all of three email messages encouraging them to continue with described programming. Folks, please, if you want it, you must tell them you want it. We must do what we can to flood these networks with our fervent requests that they continue providing described programming. Three email messages is like spitting on a forest fire. We need a thousand times that. Do we want described television?... or not. I've included below, the addresses of the three major networks. Please write to them. Tell them what you want. Ask your friends and family members to write to them. ACB is attempting to track these contacts. As you write to the networks, it would be helpful if you were to copy info@xxxxxxx Just send a copy to that email address, with 'DVS tracking' in the subject field. The simple fact of the matter is that it isn't going to happen without your own effort; just a little effort. If the networks discontinue described television, and you've not written to ask them not to, don't come back and complain when you don't have it to enjoy. Herewith, the three major networks... ABC 500 S. Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521-4551 http://www.abc.com/ netaudr@xxxxxxx CBS 51 West 52nd Street New York, NY 10019 (212) 975-4321 http://www.cbs.com/ audsvcs@xxxxxxx NBC 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 (212) 664-4444 http://www.nbc.com/ nbcshows@xxxxxxx (My letter sent to all three networks) To whom it may concern: I am disturbed to learn that your network is considering the cancellation of audio description for your programming, and am writing to urge you to reconsider. As a member of your viewing audience and as a person who is totally blind, I can tell you that my television usage has significantly increased since the introduction of audio description. As a member of two national advocacy organizations who have been supporting the addition of audio description to television programming, and educating their membership about how to access it, I can also tell you that discussion regarding your network's efforts to provide this access including which programs have it and how to use SAP to hear the description has been a hot topic on many e-mail lists, at many organizational meetings and in newsletter articles. I feel very comfortable in stating that your efforts have been noticed and appreciated and your viewing audience has increased because of those efforts. As I'm sure you are aware, there have been glitches along the way as well. There has been inconsistency at the local network and cable television level as to the transmission of audio description that you have provided. There has been the problem that although practically all new televisions are equipped to receive SAP, it is frequently embedded in a menu-driven process that is difficult or impossible to access by a person who is blind or visually impaired. There's also been the issue of advertising its availability and making people aware that it exists and how to use it. I personally had to purchase some new equipment and have friends who are more electronically savvy than I give me some instructions about how to access audio description via SAP. All this to say that in the year's time that you have been making audio description available, there has been a pretty significant learning curve required to educate all parties on its use and availability. If you are basing your decision to cancel audio description on the notion that it is not being used or that it is not impacting your viewing audience, I'd suggest that you have not given it enough time to prove its worth. I would challenge you to consider the following: What have you done to market it? Have you considered that when reaching out to the senior citizen market that a significant number of those individuals are blind or visually impaired? What do you typically do to promote new additions to your programming and did you apply the same effort and standards to audio description? I know that the industry fought in court the FCC mandate to provide audio description and won. Now I challenge you to honestly assess it as a marketing tool to increase viewership as opposed to considering it only as a civil rights access issue. While I certainly believe that I have a right to access the information and entertainment your network provides, it is equally true that I am a factor in the demographics you assess to determine what programming to provide and how to attract advertisers to support that programming. My fingers are poised over the on/off switch and channel select buttons, awaiting your final decision. You provided audio description and you gained me as a viewer. You take away audio description, you lose me as a viewer. It's really that simple. Sincerely, Donna Smith 5550 Columbia Pike, Apt. 891 Arlington, VA 22204 donnafsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxx