Video Description

On August 12, 2010, Comments were due at the FCC in a rulemaking about cable TV (FCC Dockets 00-67 and 97-80).  COAT advocates Dana Mulvany, Ronald Vickery and Larry Goldberg filed comments focusing on the accessibility issues that the newer disaggregated television devices now raise, such as pass through and display of captioning, and accessibility for people who are blind or with vision loss. It is expected that the FCC will continue to raise these issues in further rulemakings and it is a great opportunity for advocates to make sure the appropriate technical issues are included.

On August 13, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued its first quarter 2010 Consumer Complaints Report. Among the general complaints, the quarterly report shows some disability-related consumer complaints/inquiries regarding video description, closed captioning, and emergency access to video programming, as follows:

On July 26, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued four advance notices of proposed rulemaking (ANPRMs) calling for public comments about proposed updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These address websites, movie theaters, 911 services and equipment/furniture. COAT affiliates all across the country are expected to contribute to these rulemakings. These ANPRMs gather input that might change the rules. Here they are:

In a notice released August 5, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asks for comments on accessibility of wireless phones for people who are blind, have vision loss or are deaf-blind, how gaps in accessibility prevent communication, on cost and feasibility issues and on technical barriers, among other topics raised in the Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Comments are due September 13, with Reply Comments due September 30, 2010.

August 5, 2010, Washington, D.C.:-- COAT celebrates the passage of the "Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010" (S. 3304) by the U.S. Senate today by unanimous consent. Due to the extraordinary efforts of advocates across the country and in Washington, D.C., COAT has secured a monumental step forward in accessible technology.

July 26, 2010. COAT is delighted that, on the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 348 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted for H.R. 3101, "The Twenty-First Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act." In summary 220 Democrats and 128 Republicans voted for H.R. 3101. See who voted how here.

July 21, 2010, Washington, D.C.-–COAT applauds and thanks the House Energy & Commerce Committee for its  vote today for H.R. 3101, the "Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010." Less than a week away from the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the measure would update the nation’s communications laws to ensure that new TV and phone technologies are accessible to people with disabilities.