[Electronics-talk] Fw: [Braillenote] OT: Fwd: [BCT]Twenty-FirstCentury Communications and Video AccessibilityAct is passed

Sat Mar 19 16:00:15 UTC 2011

not a problem

Sent from my BRAILLENOTE Apex

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Beverly Heninger" <bevie.k at comcast.net
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and 
appliances"<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sat, 19 Mar 2011 07:04:20 -0700
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Fw: [Braillenote] OT: Fwd: 
[BCT]Twenty-FirstCentury Communications and Video 
AccessibilityAct is passed

   This is so exciting, thanks to all that have put in there time 
and
efforts to make this happen.

       Beverly Heninger
----- Original Message -----
From: "dreicer, zachary" <z.dreicer at emissives.com
To: <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 10:51 AM
Subject: [Electronics-talk] Fw: [Braillenote] OT: Fwd: [BCT]
Twenty-FirstCentury Communications and Video Accessibility Act is 
passed

 Sent from the HP Laptop.
 Email:
 <z.dreicer at emissives.com
 ----- Original Message -----
 From: "Dominique" <40493raywonder at gmail.com
 To: "BrailleNote List" <braillenote at list.humanware.com
 Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 11:38 AM
 Subject: [Braillenote] OT: Fwd: [BCT] Twenty-First Century 
Communications
 and Video Accessibility Act is passed

 Thought you'd like to check this out, if you haven't, yet.
 Original Message --------
 Subject: [BCT] Twenty-First Century Communications and Video
 Accessibility Act is passed
 Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:46:34 -0500
 From: Neal Ewers <neal.ewers at ravenswood.org
 Reply-To: bct at lists.blind-planet.com
 To: Bct <bct at lists.blind-planet.com

 *Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act 
of 2010
 - Pub.  L.  111-260*

 On October 8, 2010, President Obama signed the Twenty-First 
Century
 Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) into law  The 
CVAA
 updates federal communications law to increase the access of 
persons
 with disabilities to modern communications.  The CVAA makes sure 
that
 accessibility laws enacted in the 1980s and 1990s are brought up 
to date
 with 21^st century technologies, including new digital, 
broadband, and
 mobile innovations.  The following are highlights of the new 
law.

 *__*

 *_Title I â€“ Communications Access_*

    * Requires advanced communications services and products to 
be
      accessible by people with disabilities.  Advanced 
communications
      services are defined as (1) interconnected voice over 
Internet
      protocol (VoIP) service; (2) non-interconnected VoIP 
service; (3)
      electronic messaging service; and (4) interoperable video
      conferencing service.  This includes, for example, text 
messaging,
      e-mail, instant messaging, and video communications.
    * Requires access to web browsers on mobile devices by people 
who
      are blind or visually impaired (a â€œrampâ€ to the 
Internet on mobile
      devices).
    * Creates industry recordkeeping obligations; requires 
changes to
      complaint and enforcement procedures; tightens deadlines 
for the
      FCC to respond to consumer complaints; requires biennial 
reporting
      by the FCC to Congress; and directs the Comptroller General 
to
      issue a five-year report on the FCCâ€™s implementation.
    * Requires an FCC clearinghouse on accessible communications
      services and equipment.
    * Applies the hearing aid compatibility mandates to 
telephone-like
      equipment used with advanced communications services.
    * Updates the definition of telecommunications relay services 
(TRS)
      to include people who are deaf-blind and to allow 
communication
      between and among different types of relay users.
    * Requires interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP service
      providers to contribute to the Interstate TRS Fund.
    * Directs the allocation of up to $10 million per year from 
the
      Interstate TRS Fund for the distribution of specialized 
equipment
      to low-income people who are deaf-blind, to enable these
      individuals to access telecommunications service, Internet 
access
      service, and advanced communications.
    * Authorizes FCC action to ensure reliable and interoperable 
access
      to next generation 9â€‘1â€‘1 services by people with 
disabilities.

 *_Title II â€“ Video Programming _*

    * Restores video description rules promulgated by the FCC in 
2000
      and authorizes some expansion of those obligations over the 
next
      10+ years.
    * Requires video programming that is closed captioned on TV 
to be
      closed captioned when distributed on the Internet (does not 
cover
      programs shown only on the Internet).

 Â·Establishes deadlines for the FCC to respond to requests for 
exemption
 from the closed captioning rules.

    * Requires video programming distributors, providers, and 
owners to
      convey emergency information a manner that is accessible to 
people
      who are blind or visually impaired.
    * Expands the requirement for video programming equipment 
(equipment
      that shows TV programs) to be capable of displaying closed
      captions, to devices with screens smaller than 13 inches 
(e.g.,
      portable TVs, laptops, smart phones), and requires these 
devices
      to be able to pass through video descriptions and emergency
      information that is accessible to people who are blind or 
visually
      impaired, if technically feasible and achievable.
    * Requires devices designed to record TV programs to pass 
through
      closed captions, video description, and emergency 
information so
      viewers are able to turn on/off the closed captions and 
video
      description when the TV program is played back, if 
achievable.
    * Requires interconnection mechanisms (cables) to carry (from 
the
      source device to the consumer equipment â€“ e.g., TV set) 
the
      information necessary to permit the display of closed 
captions and
      make video description and emergency information audible.
    * Requires user controls for TVs and other video programming 
devices
      to be accessible, and to have a button, key, icon, or 
comparable
      mechanism designated for easily activating closed 
captioning and
      video description.

 Â·Requires on-screen text menus and program guides displayed on 
TV by
 set-top boxes to be accessible to people who are blind or 
visually
 impaired and requires set-top boxes to have a button, key, icon, 
or
 comparable mechanism to allow easy activation of closed 
captioning (when
 built-in to the set-top box) and video description.

 --FCC--

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