“This page is a digitally archived AccessInfo Announcement”
On September 16, 2015, the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) approved a limited extension of a waiver from the FCC’s advanced communications accessibility rules to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The waiver, which is for video game software, had been set to expire on October 8, 2015. It will now expire 15 months later, on January 1, 2017.
Examples of advanced communications services are Internet voice communication and text messaging.
Background: In 2012, ESA requested an eight-year waiver from the advanced communications accessibility rules for three classes of products and services: (1) video game consoles, (2) video game distribution platforms, and (3) video game software. In response, CGB granted ESA’s request for a waiver for each of these three classes, but only until October 8, 2015.
As noted above, the new waiver granted on September 16th is in response to ESA’s most recent petition to extend the waiver for only 15 months and for only video game software.
For more information, contact Rosaline Crawford, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at 202-418-2075 or Rosaline.Crawford@fcc.gov.