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.

Captioning Problems? FCC Now Has Searchable Database of TV Providers

May 14, 2010. Consumers can now search the recently launched FCC searchable database for contact information at TV companies for closed captioning concerns and complaints. The information in the database is required by the FCC from the video programming distributors, that is, the TV stations, cable TV, satellite TV, and phone company TV service providers. These TV distributors must provide a name, phone number and email address. There are no exemptions to provision of this information.

Also, the changes to the closed captioning rules that were adopted by the Commission on November 3, 2008, are now effective. Please review the Closed Captioning Factsheet for an explanation of the revised complaint process. I.e., complaints can now be filed at the FCC or with the distributor, no need to contact TV distributor first! Read more: Tips on Filing Captioning Complaints. File Complaint using FCC online form.

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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.

Senator Mark Pryor (AR) received AAPD’s Justice For All Award July 26, 2011 for his leadership with Senate passage of the 21st CVAA.

Key FCC Staff working on 21st CVAA

Key FCC staff working on 21st CVAA: Karen Peltz Strauss, Rosaline Crawford, Eliot Greenwald

Sesame Street video with captioning and description.

Closed Caption button on remote.

Captioning Problems? FCC Now Has Searchable Database of TV Providers

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21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

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