[Nfbf-l] FCC adopts TV rules for blind and deaf

[Don Wilkerson]

Sounds good to me.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 11:09 AM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] FCC adopts TV rules for blind and deaf


> It sounds like quite a step forward.
>
>
> Sherri
>
> FCC adopts TV rules for blind and deaf
> By Julian Hattem
>
> The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted rules that should
> make it easier for blind and deaf people to use their televisions.
> The regulations finalize a major component of the agency's effort to 
> update
> the way that people with disabilities use modern technology like TV, smart
> phones and the Internet.
>
> "I'm proud that, as a result of today's action, 25 million Americans who 
> are
> blind or visually impaired will be able to navigate menus on a range of
> devices that show video programming, and an additional 36 million deaf and
> hard of hearing Americans will be able to activate closed captions 
> easily,"
> acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn said in a statement.
>
> "Once these rules take effect, people who are blind or visually impaired
> will be able to quickly find a news channel during an emergency or tune in
> to their favorite show as readily as sighted people."
>
> The rules require set-top cable boxes, tablets and other devices can 
> audibly
> read out on-screen text menus and guides.
>
> Advocates for the blind and visually impaired say that will allow them to
> easily navigate their TVs and understand what's playing on different
> channels.
>
> Other provisions of the rules require that the devices allow people to 
> press
> a button or icon to turn on closed captioning, which is used by the deaf 
> and
> people with hearing disabilities.
>
> The rules are the last major ones the FCC is issuing to implement the 21st
> Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, which passed in 2010.
>
> Previous rules have required that Internet browsers on smart phones,
> emergency television alerts and other devices are accessible to blind and
> deaf people.
>
>
>
> Sherri
>
> Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world.
> Integrity is what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no 
> one
> is paying attention.
> Sherri Brun
> NFBF Newsline Chair
> flmom2006 at gmail.com
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbf-l mailing list
> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfbf-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/radiomaster%40centurylink.net