Digital Disability Access Bill Passes Senate
The Senate unanimously passed S. 3304, the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act on September 23.
The legislation updates the 1996 Telecommunications Act and brings disability accessibility mandates into the 21st century.
Among other provisions, the bill requires video description on television for people with vision loss, applies closed captioning rules to online video as well as TV and allocates $10 million per year for communications equipment used by people who are deaf or blind.
"This is a significant victory for all people with disabilities," said Tony Coelho, board chair of Speed Matters partner American Association of People with Disabilities. "The way all people connect has changed since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed 20 years ago, and with this legislation, people with disabilities will not be left behind. In this year of the 20th anniversary of the ADA, the U.S. Senate recognizes there is still work to be done going forward, especially regarding communications and technology."
Learn more about how broadband Internet can enable people with disabilities.
Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (Thomas.Gov)
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