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TABLE OF CONTENTS
VIDEO DESCRIPTION NOW AVAILABLE ON TOP FOUR BROADCAST AND TOP FIVE NON- BROADCAST TELEVISION NETWORKS
FCC LAUNCHES NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
FCC ACTS TO CURB MISUSE OF IP RELAY
VIDEO DESCRIPTION NOW AVAILABLE ON TOP FOUR BROADCAST AND TOP FIVE NON- BROADCAST TELEVISION NETWORKS
On July 2, 2012, the FCC announced that broadcast affiliates of the top four national networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC) located in the 25 largest markets and subscription television systems, such as cable and satellite, with more than 50,000 subscribers offering the top five non-broadcast networks (Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, TBS, TNT, and USA) must begin providing video description.
Video description is audio narrated descriptions of a television program's key visual elements inserted into natural pauses in a program's audio soundtrack. Video description makes television programs more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.
Related documents:
- FCC's Video Description Rules Now In Effect
- Rosenworcel Statement On Expanding Access to 21st Century Technologies
- Clyburn Statement on the Launch of the NDBEDP and the CVAA Rules
For more information, visit the FCC website at https://www.fcc.gov/general/video-description or contact Eliot Greenwald at 202-418-2235 or eliot.greenwald@fcc.gov.
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FCC LAUNCHES NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
The FCC has announced the launch of the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP), effective July 1, 2012. The FCC also has announced the selection of 53 entities certified to distribute equipment and provide related services under the NDBEDP in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The NDBEDP is mandated by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), which provides funding of up to $10 million annually for the distribution of communications equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind. The FCC will administer the NDBEDP as a pilot program for two to three years.
Related documents:
- Announcement of the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
- Commission Announces Entities Certified to Participate in the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
- Rosenworcel Statement On Expanding Access to 21st Century Technologies
- Clyburn Statement on the Launch of the NDBEDP and the CVAA Rules
For more information visit the FCC website at https://www.fcc.gov/general/national-deaf-blind-equipment-distribution-program or contact Jackie Ellington at 202-418-1153 or jackie.ellington@fcc.gov or Rosaline Crawford at 202-418-2075 or rosaline.crawford@fcc.gov.
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FCC ACTS TO CURB MISUSE OF IP RELAY
On June 29, 2012, the FCC released a First Report and Order that takes an important step to curb the misuse of Internet
Protocol Relay Service (IP Relay), a text-based telecommunications relay service (TRS).
Specifically, the FCC now prohibits IP Relay providers from handling non-emergency calls made by new IP Relay registrants as guest users prior to taking reasonable measures to verify their registration information. The FCC took this action to respond to concerns that individuals without a hearing or speech disability were placing IP Relay calls as guest users to businesses to place orders using fake, stolen, or otherwise invalid credit cards. Such misuse drains the TRS Fund and harms legitimate TRS users whose calls are rejected by businesses that are accustomed to receiving many fraudulent calls.
Related documents:
For more information contact Eliot Greenwald at 202-418-2235 or eliot.greenwald@fcc.gov.