FCC

July 2, 2012 –The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission launched the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program on July 1, 2012. The goal of the program is to ensure that individuals who are deaf-blind will receive the specialized customer premises equipment needed to effectively access telecommunications services, Internet services, and advanced communications services.

June 21, 2012 – In May, the Center for Advanced Communications Policy in association with the Federal Communications Bar Association, sponsored a luncheon, as part of the Public Policy Luncheon Series, discussing The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA).  The luncheon series is an opportunity for “local, state and federal government leaders, industry representatives and a diverse set of stakeholders to address the public policy issues facing the telecommunications industry, particularly pertaining to accessibility for persons with disabilities.”  Lu

June 22, 2012 –The FCC has issued a Consumer Guide outlining the rules “adopted to implement the video description provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA),” which will become effective July 1, 2012.  The guide highlights that at least fifty hours of video-described prime time and/or children’s programming is required for the following networks:

05.23.12 – The FCC has begun accepting nominations for the Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman’s AAA).  The awards are “designed to recognize the efforts of individuals, organizations, academics, companies and government agencies to make communication tools easier to use and more accessible to people with disabilities, and to encourage technological innovation and accessibility in communications-related areas.” Nominations are due by July 31, 2012 and can be made for various categories including education, deaf-blind solutions, video programming device solutions, ge

05.23.12 – The FCC has begun accepting nominations for the Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman’s AAA).  The awards are “designed to recognize the efforts of individuals, organizations, academics, companies and government agencies to make communication tools easier to use and more accessible to people with disabilities, and to encourage technological innovation and accessibility in communications-related areas.” Nominations are due by July 31, 2012 and can be made for various categories including education, deaf-blind solutions, video programming device solutions, ge