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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.

What H.R. 3101 Has that S.3304 Doesn't

UPDATE:  The U.S. Senate improved and then passed S. 3304 by unanimous consent on August 5, 2010.  For more information, see http://www.coataccess.org/node/9777.

What H.R. 3101 will do for us that S. 3304 does not:

Title I - Communications Access

Section 103: Relay services.

  • Not in S. 3304:  Establishes a Telecommunications Relay Services Policy Advisory Council.
  • Not in S. 3304:  Requires the FCC to report to Congress about access  to improved relay service technologies; and to suggest ways to  facilitate use of relay services in the workplace, and update equipment in public places and government offices.

Section 104:  Access to internet-based services and equipment.

  • Not in S. 3304:  Requires access to Internet services built-in to mobile telephone devices, like smart phones, if achievable.

Title II - Video Programming

Section 202: Video description and closed captioning.

Video Description

  • Not in S. 3304:  After 4 years, permits the FCC to increase video description to 7 hours per week (up from 4 hours per week on top 4 broadcast networks and top 5 cable channels, in the top 25 most populated markets).
  • Not in S. 3304:  After 6 years, requires the FCC to apply the video description requirements to all markets (not just the top 25 most populated markets).
  • Not in S. 3304:  After 9 years, requires the FCC to report to Congress on the need for additional video description.
  • Not in S. 3304:  After 10 years, permits the FCC to adopt recommendations reported to Congress to increase video description.

Closed Captioning

  • Not in S. 3304:  Requires broadcast and cable networks to report to the FCC every 2 years on the amount of captioned television-like programs delivered only over the Internet.
  • Not in S. 3304:  Requires the FCC to report and recommend to Congress about requiring captions on television-like programs that are shown only on the Internet.

 

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COAT leaders at the FCC

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.

21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

President Obama signs the Accessibility Act

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

Senator Mark Pryor (AR)

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. Sesame Street video with captioning and description.

Closed Caption button on remote. Closed Caption button on remote.