Wireless RERC - Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

CEA Publishes Accessibility Resource Guide for Tech Industry

mz22 — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 17:55:52 +0000

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

CEA Publishes Accessibility Resource Center

October 2014 – The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), a technology trade association for the consumer electronics industry, announced the publication of its Accessibility Resource Center, a resource guide that helps CEA members meet the requirements of the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The resource guide is a collection of CEA guides, comments, and other actions that have been consolidated into a single quick-reference resource. With deadlines for the federal accessibility requirements approaching, the resource guide will help electronics industry leaders prepare and comply with the CVAA guidelines.

The Accessibility Resource Center is available online for CEA members. CEA president and CEO Gary Shapiro stated, “As a leading technology trade association, it is important that CEA support its members by assisting them in complying with federal regulations even as we continue to push for a pro-innovation regulatory environment.”

For additional information about the Accessibility Resource Center, please click the link below.

Wireless RERC Comments on Impact of Federal Accessibility Mandates

mz22 — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 15:42:54 +0000

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Comments of Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP) and the Rehabilitat

Publication Type:

Policy Filings

Georgia Tech’s Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP), in collaboration with the Wireless RERC, submitted comments to an FCC Public Notice [CG Docket No. 10-213] asking for comments on the tentative findings about the accessibility of communication technologies. Released on August 28, 2014, the Public Notice requested comments assessing the extent to which telecommunications and advanced communications services and technology have complied with CVAA accessibility mandates, related recordkeeping and enforcement obligations effects, and the existing accessibility barriers for new communications technologies.

Georgia Tech’s CACP and the Wireless RERC submitted comments addressing various aspects of inclusive and accessible technologies, including:

Research supporting tentative findings that show an increase in readily available and accessible technologies;
Information concerning the staffing and training of people who are knowledgeable about assistive technologies and the people who use them;
Discrepancies among retail staff and retailer knowledge about assistive technologies and;
The lack of accessible alerting systems.

Public Input Deadlines Announced - Accessibility of User Interfaces

mz22 — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:34:03 +0000

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [MB Docket No 12-108; 12-107]

December 2013 —The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in the Matter of Accessibility of User Interfaces, and Video Programming Guides and Menus; Accessible Emergency Information, and Apparatus Requirements for Emergency Information and Video Description: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 [MB Docket No. 12-108, 12-107]. The FNPRM addresses rules previously adopted to implement Sections 204 and 205 of the CVAA, enabling people with visual or auditory disabilities to easily access accessibility features for video programming.In the FNPRM, the FCC seeks comment on whether the term “usable” should be defined in relation to implementing Section 204 and whether the phrase “accessibility features” is meant to include closed captioning user display settings and “require covered entities to ensure that consumers are able to locate and control such settings.” Additional comments are sought regardingwhether rules should be adopted to require secondary audio streams, which may carry accessible public safety information, to be activated by a “mechanism reasonably comparable to a button, key or icon” and whether additional rues are needed to require manufacturers to provide information, documentation and training for consumers regarding accessibility features. Comments are due on or before February 18, 2014; reply comments are due on or before March 20, 2014.

Senators Advocate for Closed Captioning in Online Video Clips

mz22 — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 19:59:23 +0000

closed captioning

IP Video

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Press Release from Senator Markey

December 2013 — In response to a decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider the exemption of IP delivered video clips from captioning rules, Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) wrote a letter to the FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to express their support in reconsideration of the matter. As authors of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), the Senators expressed that their original intent in drafting the legislation was to ensure that all video clips, regardless of length, include captioning when delivered via IP. In their letter, the Senators also highlight that the majority of current video clips do not include captions, “including 77% of news video clips.” The letter concludes by urging the FCC to reconsider the captioning rules noting, “We hope that the FCC takes this opportunity to resolve this issue and ensure millions of people who are deaf and hard of hearing are not shut out from important online programming.”

FCC Refines Rules on Accessibility of User Interfaces & Digital Video Navigation

mz22 — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 16:42:17 +0000

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee (VPAAC)

Report and Order and FNPRM [MB Docket No. 12-108 and 12-107]

October 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report and Order (R&O) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in the Matter of Accessibility of User Interface, and Video Programming Guides and Menus [MB Docket No. 12-108] and Accessible Emergency Information and Apparatus Requirements for Emergency Information and Video Description: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 [MB Docket No. 12-107]. The R&O adopts rules to implement Sections 204 and 205 of the CVAA which will enable people with visual or auditory disabilities to easily access accessibility features for video programming. Specifically, the R&O outlines that the rules specified in Section 205 apply to “navigation devices,” or those devices used to access multichannel video programming, and the rules specified in Section 204 apply to all other “digital apparatus designed to receive or play back video programming transmitted in digital format simultaneously with sound.” In ensuring accessibility of navigation devices and digital apparatus, Section 204 requires audio output for all essential functions, as defined by the VPAAC, needed for video reception and playback while also requiring a button, key, or icon for consumers to easily access closed captioning and video description. Similarly, Section 205 requires that the 11 VPAAC essential functions be accessible; however only nine of the 11 require audio output, and at this time, devices covered under Section 205 are required to have a button, key or icon to provide access for closed captioning only. The rules also require covered entities to inform consumers of the availability of accessible devices while also setting a three-year compliance deadline for covered entities.

The FCC seeks comment on the adoption of additional rules to define the term “usable” in relation to Section 204, and the possible benefits or costs of “imposing usability requirements.” Comments are also sought on whether rules should be adopted to require secondary audio streams, which may carry accessible public safety information, to be activated by a “mechanism reasonably comparable to a button, key or icon” and whether additional rues are needed to require manufacturers to provide information, documentation and training for consumers regarding accessibility features. Initial comments are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, and reply comments are due 90 days after publication in the Federal Register.

FCC Accepting Applications for the Mississippi Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program

mz22 — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 16:00:35 +0000

Deaf-Blind

National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Public Notice [DA 13-2097]

October 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice [DA 13-2097] inviting interested parties to submit applications to become certified “to distribute equipment under the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) to qualifying residents in Mississippi.” In accordance with Section 105 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), NDBEDP began as a two-year pilot program in 2012 that enables low-income individuals who are deaf-blind to have access to the Internet and advanced communications through State equipment distribution programs. Recently, The Arc of Mississippi noted that they were no longer able to participate as a NDBEDP provider and will withdraw from the program beginning January 1, 2014. Accordingly, the FCC is seeking applicants who wish to be certified as equipment distribution provider under the NDBEDP in Mississippi. Applications are open to both public programs and private entities and are due November 14, 2013.

FCC Extends Comment Deadline: Rulemaking on Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming

mz22 — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 19:24:27 +0000

closed captioning

Hearing Loss

Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Order on Reconsideration and FNPRM [MB Docket No. 11-154]

Order: Granted the Motion for Extension

August 2013 — The FCC released an Order 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. 11-154]. The Order extends the comment deadline for the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released on June 14, 2013, wherein the FCC requested comments on requirements for the synchronization of closed captions and video display in addition to the closed caption requirements for DVD and Blu-Ray players that “do not render or pass through closed captions.” While the initial comment dates were set for September 3, 2013 for comments and September 30, 2013 for reply comments, the FCC has acquiesced to consumer groups’ request for a 60 day extension for comments with reply comments due 30 days thereafter. In their request, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and other consumer groups noted that additional time was needed to confer “on issues raised in the FNPRM” and “retain pro bono counsel to file comments and reply comments on their behalf.”

FCC Open Meeting in July

mz22 — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:29:50 +0000

The FCC has released the tentative agenda for the upcoming open meeting scheduled for Friday, July 19, 2013. The agenda includes considerations for a Report and Order addressing mandatory minimum standards applicable to the Speech-to-Speech Relay program, and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for modernization of the E-Rate program to include broadband for digital learning technologies. In addition, the meeting will include a review of the implementation of the CVAA since its passage in 2010. The meeting will begin at 10:30 in Room TW-C305 at the FCC Headquarters.

Start Date:

Friday, July 19, 2013 - 10:30am

Additional Information:

FCC July Open Meeting

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Subscriptions:

National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Allocations

mz22 — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 19:59:11 +0000

National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Deaf-Blind

National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program 2013-2014 Allocations

July 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) announced the 2013-2014 funding allocations for entities eligible to receive support and reimbursements under the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP). The NDBEDP is a program mandated by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) that enables low-income individuals who are deaf-blind to have access to the Internet and advanced communications, including interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and information services. Each year, the FCC allocates $10 million to NDBEDP, $500,000 of which is used for national outreach efforts, and the rest goes to one entity per state chosen to receive support for the local distribution of equipment.

New Deadlines for Closed Captioning Rules

mz22 — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 19:44:21 +0000

closed captioning

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

Hearing Loss

Order on Reconsideration and FNPRM [MB Docket No. 11-154]

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. 11-154]. The Order on Reconsideration addresses petitions from stakeholders, concerning the rules for captioning of IP-delivered video programming for certain apparatus that will go into effect on August 1, 2013. For the FNPRM, where the FCC asked for comments on requirements for the synchronization of closed captions and video display in addition to the closed caption requirements for DVD and Blu-Ray players that do not render or pass through closed captions, initial comments are due September 2, 2013 and reply comments are due September 30, 2013.