COAT advocates for accessibility and usability of technology for people with disabilities. Enacting the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (21st CVAA) was a huge step forward and we are working to implement this new law. COAT’s overall aim is to ensure accessibility, usability, and affordability of all broadband, wireless, and Internet technologies for people with disabilities.

COAT Affiliate NAD Urges FCC & Industry to Protect Video Relay Service

The National Association of the Deaf learned in November 2009 that individuals across the United States were arrested for conspiring to defraud the Video Relay Service (VRS) program, administered by the FCC. NAD is disappointed by these serious and significant allegations. VRS is a critical service that gives deaf and hard of hearing people the ability to communicate in American Sign Language with hearing people over the telephone network.

SnapVRS press release.

Deafnet News

TERPlink blog

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AAPD supports protecting the

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 18:53.

AAPD supports protecting the VRS program and thanks the enforcers for cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse. JFA story at http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/11/video-relay-abusers-ind...

Andrew Phillips, National Association of the Deaf; Eric Bridges, American Council of the Blind; Mark Richert, American Foundation for the Blind; and Jenifer Simpson, American Association of People with Disabilities, outside the FCC building, Washington DC, after meetings on pending rules under 21st CVAA.

Celebration of the bill's final passage

Rep. Ed Markey and Legislative Director Mark Bayer celebrate the bill’s final passage on September 28, 2010, in front of the Helen Keller statue, with the leaders from the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology: Karen Peltz Strauss, formerly with Communication Service for the Deaf; Jenifer Simpson, American Association of People with Disabilities; Rosaline Crawford, National Association of the Deaf. Their hands symbolize clapping in sign language.

Congressman Ed Markey in photo of Congressional hearing room dais. Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA), center, introduced the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009 (H.R. 3101) on June 26, 2009.

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President Obama signs the Accessibility Act

President Obama signed the 21^st
Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act into law on October 8, 2010, with many key advocates and lawmakers in attendance.