Assistive Technology

July 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order in the Matter of Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities [CG Docket No. 03-123] and Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program [CG Docket No. 10-51]. The Order adopts per-minute compensation rates for all telecommunication relay services (TRS), excluding video relay services (VRS).  Specifically, for the 2013-2014 fund year, the Order sets the compensation rates as follows:

July 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice noting the deadlines concerning the June 14, 2013 Order on Reconsideration and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in the Matter of Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 [MB Docket No.

June 2013 — The U.S.

June 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Media Bureau released a Public Notice [MB Docket No 11-43] seeking comment on the video description rules that were released on August 25, 2011 in accordance with the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010.  Currently, the rules require certain television broadcast stations and MVPDs “to provide video description for a portion of the video programming they offer to consumers.”  The Media Bureau seeks comment on the availability of video description, the extent to which video description is being provide

June 2013 — The World Intellectual Property Organization met at the end of June to finalize the terms of a treaty, which would legally allow for copyrighted material to be made accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Currently, less than one percent of all the world’s books are available in accessible formats including Braille, large print or audio recordings.