[Nfb-or] [announce] FW: Historic Senate Hearing Builds Compelling Case for Landmark Communications and Video Programming Legislation

[Renee Squier]

-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Bridges <
ebridges at acb.org>

Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 10:11 AM
To:
leadership at acb.org
;
announce at acb.org
Subject: [announce] FW: Historic Senate Hearing Builds Compelling Case for Landmark Communications and Video Programming Legislation

Below is a very accurate description of the Senate hearing yesterday concerning S.3304, Equal Access to Twenty-First Century Communications Act.

The Commerce Committee is interested in moving the legislation this summer.

Eric

Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
ebridges at acb.org
www.acb.org

From: AFB DirectConnect [mailto:mrichert at afb.net]
 Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 10:31 AM
 To: AFB Subscriber
 Subject: Historic Senate Hearing Builds Compelling Case for Landmark Communications and Video Programming Legislation

Historic Senate Hearing Builds Compelling Case for Landmark Communications and Video Programming Technology Legislation

 For further information, contact:

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

The massive effort to put Internet-equipped accessible mobile phones and other technology into the hands of people with disabilities took yet another giant
leap forward yesterday. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) held an historic and well-attended hearing of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the
Internet which he chairs to discuss how he and his Senate colleagues can move swiftly to enact comprehensive telecommunications and video programming legislation
that would dramatically improve the ability of people with vision loss to benefit from the technology revolution.

 Compelling testimony from an Iraq War veteran who lost his vision in combat, along with presentations by an impressive array of witnesses from the deafness
and technology industry communities, underscored the tremendous possibilities that are in store for all people with disabilities if only the most commonly
available mobile and video programming technologies are designed with the unique needs of people living with vision loss and other disabilities in mind.

 Senator Kerry expressed the hope that comprehensive legislation will be passed in the Senate soon. The Senate legislation, S. 3304, the Equal Access to
Twenty-first Century Communications Act, while flawed in several areas, does mirror in many ways the landmark bill currently pending in the House sponsored
by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), H.R. 3101, the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, legislation that enjoys the endorsement of the
disability community and major industry players. Rep. Markey also testified at yesterday's hearing and congratulated his Senate counterparts for their
leadership.

 Given the growing momentum in Congress, there is increasing optimism that action in either or both chambers may be possible in time for the twentieth anniversary
of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act to be commemorated on July 26 of this year. Advocates should therefore continue to press their House
and Senate members to support prompt passage of the strongest possible technology accessibility bill and to use H.R. 3101 as the model for such legislation.

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