[il-talk] FW: [LBPH] ALERT!--Historic Tech Access Bill Passes Senate!

[David Meyer]

  _____  

From: Ruda, Sharon [mailto:SRuda at ILSOS.NET] 
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 8:09 AM
To: Bogdan, William; camille at horizons-blind.org; dafk-Bledsoe at sbcglobal.net;
datemeyer at sbcglobal.net; info at comp-unique.com; james kral;
lbroom at shawls.lib.il.us; Rita Howells; Suzanne Rood Cox;
sweetnightingale at sbcglobal.net; yankee43 at consolidated.net
Subject: FW: [LBPH] ALERT!--Historic Tech Access Bill Passes Senate!



 

FYI

Sharon

 

				

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!!!ALERT!!!
Historic Tech Access Bill Passes Senate!



For further information, contact:

Mark Richert, Esq.
Director, public Policy, AFB
(202) 469-6833
mrichert at afb.net

Late Thursday evening, August 5, the U.S. Senate passed the Twenty-first
Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act by unanimous consent. The
Senate version of the bill incorporates most of the key provisions of the
House-passed version and will now go back to the House for final approval
which could happen as early as next week. Once signed into law, the Act
will-

* Authorize the FCC to require up to an average of 63 hours of video
description per week from among the top 4 network channels and top 5 cable
channels nationwide.

* Allocate up to $10 million per year for equipment used by individuals who
are deaf-blind.

* Require televised emergency information to be accessible to people with
vision loss. 

* Require advanced communications equipment and services, such as text
messaging and e-mail, to be accessible.

* Require accessibility of Internet browsers built-in to mobile telephone
devices such as smart phones.

* Require devices of any size to be capable of displaying closed captioning,
delivering available video description, and making emergency information
accessible.

* Require accessible user controls and electronic program guides for
televisions and cable/satellite set-top boxes, and easy menu access to
closed captioning and video description.

All advocates are congratulated for their critical contributions bringing
such monumental legislation to this historic turning point. 

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