[il-talk] FCC Reinstates Video Description Programming

[Bill Reif]

That is good news, as far as it goes.  However, the phrase "and when 
that technical capability is not
being used for another purpose related to the programming" is quite a 
loophole.  Many stations stick Spanish in their SAP channel.  I'm not 
sure how that is done since the digital conversion.  I hope the FCC is 
supportive of past NFB resolutions requiring the audio captioning of 
emergency broadcast information that's not otherwise made available to 
us, or of "the phone number on your screen" that we can't access.  I 
wonder how many of us can even turn on the audio captioning through our 
TV, cable box, or satellite converter.

Cordially,
Bill


On 9/13/2011 7:10 PM, Hap Holly wrote:
> *Here's some good news for a change.*
>
>
> The U.S. government is reinstating a rule requiring video description
> programming by large-market broadcast affiliates of the top four national
> networks,
>
> and multichannel video programming distributor systems (MVPDS) with more
> than 50,000 subscribers.
>
>
>
> On Sept. 8, the Federal Communications Commission posted a Federal Register
> Notice-Video Description: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century
> Communications
>
> and Video Accessibility Act of 2010-which says this order reinstates the
> video description rules adopted by the commission in 2000.
>
>
>
> "Video description" is the insertion of audio narrated descriptions of a
> television program's key visual elements into natural pauses in the
> program's dialogue,
>
> which makes video programming more accessible to individuals who are blind
> or visually impaired, the notice says.
>
>
>
> The FCC's order reinstates the requirement that large-market broadcast
> affiliates of the top four national networks, and MVPDS with more than
> 50,000 subscribers,
>
> provide video description.
>
>
>
> The order also reinstates the requirement that all network-affiliated
> broadcasters (commercial or non-commercial) and all MVPDS pass through any
> video description
>
> provided with network programming they carry, to the extent that they are
> technically capable of doing so and when that technical capability is not
> being
>
> used for another purpose related to the programming.
>
>
>
> The FCC originally adopted video description regulations in 2000, but the
> U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the video
> description
>
> rules on the grounds the FCC had insufficient authority to impose such
> regulations, according to the commission. However, the Twenty-First Century
> Communications
>
> and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-260) directs the FCC to
> reinstate those rules with certain modifications. The new video description
> rule
>
> becomes effective Oct. 11, 2011, with Oct. 1, 2012 as the final compliance
> date.
>
> FCC Reinstates Video Description Programming,
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