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.

Sign the Petition for 21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility

Sign here the COAT petition to show you support the 21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act. See the names of over 9,000 people from all 50 states who've signed it!

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As a blind person who pays

Submitted by Chet AveryAnonymous (not verified) on Mon, 10/05/2009 - 14:45.

As a blind person who pays taxes, subscribes to cable, tv, phone and internet services who buys tv sets, phone an cell phones and purchases the goods and services advertised on tv, the radio and internet, I feel that I should have full access to the telecommunication services and equipment that other citizen purchasers have. I am paying xmy way and feel entitled to have those devices and services available to others made available to me. I also feel that laws should be passed to secure my rights containing fines and saprohibitions be imposed on pblic and private companies violating my rights as a sonsumer and citizen.

Yeah! 21st century have

Submitted by John (not verified) on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 02:56.

Yeah! 21st century have brought revolution in the field of technology and COAT is also a welcome distraction from the hectic engagements and social preoccupation of daily life. I also support the Communications and Video Accessibility Act. The efforts of administrator for this act is worthwhile and important.

Anyone who signs the COAT

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 11:24.

Anyone who signs the COAT petition may be interested in also signing the Reading Rights Coalition petition which is at

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/We-Want-To-Read

This is about how they want to disable the Text To Speech function on the Kindle electronic book device.

I depend on closed captions

Submitted by Karen (not verified) on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 13:09.

I depend on closed captions to watch TV. We recently purchased a new HD TV (spending well over $1,000) and subscribed to a new cable HD service, only to find that captioning for HD TV either does not exist, or when it does, is totally unreadable. The captions come on in very short spurts, disappearing more quickly than any speed-reader could comprehend. Why current technology cannot rectify this is beyond me! Obviously TV stations don't care! Let's get legislation to force this issue.

I read some of the ideas of

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/10/2010 - 08:19.

I read some of the ideas of placing captioning on TVs, DVD, VHS, etc but DO NOT FORGET Projectors! Many places of lodging and dinning settings have large projectors but none with captioning decoders in them. I know of a couple manufacters that include them such as NEC. I believe this is something much needed in complying with the ADAAA regulations or the closed captioning law where as 13" or larger TV's must have built in decoder chips.

Thanks

G-

So helpful to read this

Submitted by Lauren (not verified) on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 11:47.

So helpful to read this Karen! I noticed those impossible too fast captions on a friend's TV a few weeks ago. And I read very quickly :-). And now that I just added HBO to my own (older tv here, but going to work with transition, cause cabled) - these HBO captions are also too quick and spotty (missing a line or more too frequently - awful. Not good. We need proper captioning for full equal access, yes. LS

Please complain to your

Submitted by Jenifer Simpson on Fri, 04/24/2009 - 10:43.

Please complain to your cable TV company! Under current govt. rules, they are responsible for ensuring pass through of captioning. If they don't hear from you, they will never know there is a problem. If you get nowhere with them, complain to the FCC.

we need this now as with

Submitted by John Smith (not verified) on Sat, 02/28/2009 - 19:06.

we need this now as with every new gadget that comes out i can hardly see it or operate it and I like these toys!

This petition is a bit

Submitted by Overstream (not verified) on Mon, 02/23/2009 - 03:31.

This petition is a bit wrong. This bill died in the previous Congress. Therefore, it needs to be re-introduced again, I believe. It's a moot point to argue for the passage of the dead bill.

So the petition should focus on the sponsor (Rep. Markey, D- MA) and co-sponsors to have them reintroduce the bill.

my understanding is that the

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 15:58.

my understanding is that the bill is likely to be re-introduced again with the same or very similar title so it is not "dead". I don't think anyone is arguing for passage of a dead bill. Everyone just wants a bill with these things in it.

You are correct. The 21st

Submitted by jimtobias on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 13:29.

You are correct. The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act bill was introduced, but did not pass in the previous Congress. That is why the Petition says, "We support COAT's efforts to enact the Twenty-first Century Telecommunications and Video Accessibility Act . . .." People who sign the Petition support the re-introduction and passage of the bill this Congress.

I depend on captioning or

Submitted by Sylvia Russell (not verified) on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 21:11.

I depend on captioning or subtitles in order to watch TV now, and was distressed to find that some HD channels do not provide it. One was KQED on Sunday. I wanted to watch Oliver Twist in all its HD glory, but there were no titles. I wrote them a letter about it but haven't had a reply. Congress is now being petitioned by the hearing organization COAT to support passage of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. Sign it now, and spread the word! See the more than 400 who've signed it so far.

Including me.

I agree that this is an

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 05:33.

I agree that this is an important and must have in America. I have often wondered if this is the reason the switch over to HD on the continental United States was postponed to ensure these features are available after the switch over.

I have also often wondered while perusing different websites whether or not indiivdiduals with disabilities are able to completely view and benefit from the site.

This is much needed legislation that will empower all individuals in our communities to be as knowledgeable as the internet makes possible.

Technology is now available

Submitted by Rosalind Pretzfelder (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 19:29.

Technology is now available to allow people who were formally excluded from full participation to enjoy all media. There is no excuse to not implement the rules and regulations that would make this possible.