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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.

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COAT Advocates File Comments at FCC on Accessibility of Video Devices

On August 12, 2010, Comments were due at the FCC in a rulemaking about cable TV (FCC Dockets 00-67 and 97-80).  COAT advocates Dana Mulvany, Ronald Vickery and Larry Goldberg filed comments focusing on the accessibility issues that the newer disaggregated television devices now raise, such as pass through and display of captioning, and accessibility for people who are blind or with vision loss. It is expected that the FCC will continue to raise these issues in further rulemakings and it is a great opportunity for advocates to make sure the appropriate technical issues are included.

Ms Mulvany noted:

  • because most members of the public will not have the technical expertise or knowledge to anticipate the impact of new technology upon accessibility, the FCC should make a concerted effort to obtain input from people with such expertise and technical knowledge to explore how to maximize accessibility when new standards are being considered.
  • As technology gets more and more sophisticated and specialized, the FCC needs to implement an effective compensatory strategy for addressing accessibility concerns for the public interest by utilizing the services of people with the necessary technical expertise to advise FCC staff.

Read Dana Mulvany's Comments to the FCC.

Read Ronald Vickery's Comment to the FCC

COAT Coalition had also previously commented in 2009 on similar topics.

FCC Notice

FCC Cablecard NPRM

 

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COMMENT TO THE FCC BY LARRY GOLDBERG.doc24 KB
Additional Comment to the FCC by Dana Mulvany.doc24.5 KB
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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.

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