[blindlaw] FW: Accessible Emergency Information, and Apparatus Requirements for Emergency Information and Video Description

[Norman, Gary C. (CMS/OSORA)]

From: AccessInfo [mailto:AccessInfo at fcc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 3:03 PM
To: Norman, Gary C. (CMS/OSORA)
Subject: Accessible Emergency Information, and Apparatus Requirements for Emergency Information and Video Description

Comment Deadline:  Twenty days after publication in Federal Register

On November 19, 2012, the FCC's Media Bureau (MB) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA).  This NPRM proposes to make televised emergency information more accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired by requiring the use of a secondary audio stream to provide emergency information aurally that is conveyed visually during programming other than newscasts.

The NPRM asks for public comment on how to ensure that television apparatus are able to make available video description and emergency information accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.  Further, comment is sought on the proposal to limit the scope of the new rules to television broadcast stations and MVPDs, and not to Internet-delivered video programming.

The proposed revisions to the FCC rules will help fulfill the purpose of the CVAA to update the communication laws to help ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to fully utilize communications services and equipment and to have better access video programming.

Links to the NPRM:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-12-142A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-12-142A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-12-142A1.txt

For more information, contact the following staff members of the FCC's Media Bureau:  Diana Sokolow, Diana.Sokolow at fcc.gov<mailto:Diana.Sokolow at fcc.gov>, or Maria Mullarkey, Maria.Mullarkey at fcc.gov<mailto:Maria.Mullarkey at fcc.gov>, (202) 418-2120.