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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> Joel Snyder via adp-list [mailto:adp-list@acblists.org] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 12, 2017 3:25 PM<br><b>To:</b> ACB Audio Description Project Discussion List <adp-list@acblists.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [adp-list] FCC Increases Amount of Required Video Described Programming on Top-Rated Broadcast & Nonbroadcast Networks<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Media Contact:<br>Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509<br><a href="mailto:will.wiquist@fcc.gov">will.wiquist@fcc.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>FCC INCREASES AMOUNT OF REQUIRED VIDEO DESCRIBED PROGRAMMING ON TOP-RATED BROADCAST & NONBROADCAST NETWORKS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Action Makes More TV Accessible to Americans Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Link to read/download press release: <a href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/transition.fcc.gov?p=eyJzIjoiV19Yd0ZHWEg2bkF3OTNVRzJJNWxqUVg0Wk1VIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvdHJhbnNpdGlvbi5mY2MuZ292XFxcL0RhaWx5X1JlbGVhc2VzXFxcL0RhaWx5X0J1c2luZXNzXFxcLzIwMTdcXFwvZGIwNzEyXFxcL0RPQy0zNDU3NTdBMS5wZGZcIixcImlkXCI6XCJkNjUxNzZjMTZlOGM0OTg2ODE3NzAyYTczZDE5ZTZkMFwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImY0NjE2YTRiNDk3MmNmZjliMzFhNWE1YjBkZmM1NjU1NWEzM2JjYWJcIl19In0">http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0712/DOC-345757A1.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>WASHINGTON, July 12, 2017 – The Federal Communications Commission today adopted new rules to ensure Americans who are blind or visually impaired have access to more video described programming. Video description, also called audio description, allows people with limited vision to hear a description of on-screen activity while also following the dialogue, providing a more fulsome entertainment experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>According to the National Federation of the Blind, more than 7 million Americans have a visual disability. The new rules adopted today will ensure that more video described programming is available to those who rely on it, and also provide broadcast and nonbroadcast television networks more flexibility in complying with the rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Beginning in July 2018, broadcasters and pay-TV providers carrying one of the top networks must provide 87.5 hours of described programming per calendar quarter, which averages out to roughly one hour per day of description on each included network. This is an increase of 75 percent over the 50 hours per quarter presently required. While the current 50 hour requirement must be provided during prime-time or children’s programming, the additional 37.5 hours per quarter being added by these new rules can be provided at any time of day between 6 a.m. and midnight. The networks currently covered by the rule are ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Disney Channel, History, TBS, TNT, and USA. However, the list of the top five nonbroadcast networks will be updated in July 2018, so this is subject to change.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>With the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Congress recognized the importance of ensuring that Americans with disabilities have access to functionally-equivalent entertainment and communications options. The new rules adopted by the Commission today take another important step in implementing this law and furthering its<br>accessibility goals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Video description is provided through the TV or set top box “secondary audio” feature, which some TV controls identify as “SAP” or “secondary audio program.” To learn more about video description, please see the FCC’s consumer guide: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.usa.gov%2FxNF6a&h=ATNvHNpY5tFgljWllHGm8AF6vrGQOyI_2Ml03GryvVMRM6GJVVyPtb7ntnLcQX6swnB-xOoKlcmptmazPGWibr6jmnPAr6zyK7X-bzR_RuP0rBt29K6EKJ1j3LCXAkamnM4-JaSKHAiwKP_FJHWa8wxDuwE&enc=AZMgvg50gd38I3NZE9EYZiBkGiWGQiKHuS6F_kx-TyEFCwSRe582YEUQE4sOZXZk8-hUvhDr5J37YaQLQqF_oeG60iFt8vAVOUx8LNOVRBESNyWqp3wyS0npQv0uWTv7wB5uL7zCOxcAZCcDIMt0eKGiYk1S77igZQuUKvw7I1RNkoTldH47I3sZcpx7vmHvNr8P7N_ZzzC73uko5e6lhp9h&s=1" target="_blank">https://go.usa.gov/xNF6a</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Action by the Commission July 11, 2017 by Report and Order (FCC 17-88). Chairman Pai and Commissioners Clyburn and O’Rielly approving and issuing separate statements.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>MB Docket No. 11-43<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500<br>ASL Videophone: 1-844-432-2275<br>TTY: (888) 835-5322<br>Twitter: @FCC<br><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fcc.gov%2Foffice-media-relations&h=ATMoF1AP5QEbf6BIHemTpcEEsRXiMJTvwdlVv1MXFjq3KuTWm38h3hnArPba1EF-nGvhPkFCi3SJfIYUrlOHHvCqZT2L-1DUyzIDhGTelxt5ifYYtu54e2SzkA06KrxBapo7pTg20QeLUViC89h4U3UdLsk&enc=AZNatPcKZm-BT4VTqi6iSCqzH-MGUxcLPNH29nWti_AwZg0D7Rg6GtWBHW79CxqHZwox2Ka6uOD5Jq82zA9EBcuosUrEy8aRose-407OWWqUrraMJf-AaEqKGm8v4i_qVucZQs7hceVvzWGbX1XdZqXh0HErnrXbh4SzGa5VSIf95e-QviQk-oEueY7Eb89GnC_KPNdEG8CH8A1W1CQ0yuEY&s=1" target="_blank">www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=1 height=1 style='width:.0104in;height:.0104in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D2FB37.85A17610" alt="Image removed by sender."></span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=1 height=1 style='width:.0104in;height:.0104in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D2FB37.85A17610" alt="Image removed by sender."></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>