I think this whole thing is bizarre. Why is it considered rational and
inclusive to make such a tiny percentage of TV programming accessible to people
who want to watch and can’t see. And this is announced is a great improvement.
We have all been so well trained and submissive. We gratefully accepted every
crumb that is dropped.
Miriam
From: Kelly Gasque via announce [mailto:announce@xxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2017 3:41 PM
To: leadership@xxxxxxxxxxxx; announce@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Kelly Gasque <kgasque@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [announce] Press Release: FCC Increases Amount of Required Video
Described Programming on Top-Rated Broadcast & Nonbroadcast Networks
Media Contact:
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@xxxxxxx <mailto:will.wiquist@xxxxxxx>
For Immediate Release
FCC INCREASES AMOUNT OF REQUIRED VIDEO DESCRIBED PROGRAMMING ON TOP-RATED
BROADCAST & NONBROADCAST NETWORKS
Action Makes More TV Accessible to Americans Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
Link to read/download press release:
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0712/DOC-345757A1.pdf
<https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/transition.fcc.gov?p=eyJzIjoiVkpJWHRoRlMxeENBczNWaTNzSmNPN012a1NZIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvdHJhbnNpdGlvbi5mY2MuZ292XFxcL0RhaWx5X1JlbGVhc2VzXFxcL0RhaWx5X0J1c2luZXNzXFxcLzIwMTdcXFwvZGIwNzEyXFxcL0RPQy0zNDU3NTdBMS5wZGZcIixcImlkXCI6XCI5ZmE5YTUzNzQ0ZjM0YTdkOWI1NGE0NmU4ZmEwYWIzY1wiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImY0NjE2YTRiNDk3MmNmZjliMzFhNWE1YjBkZmM1NjU1NWEzM2JjYWJcIl19In0>
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2017 – The Federal Communications Commission today adopted
new rules to ensure Americans who are blind or visually impaired have access to
more video described programming. Video description, also called audio
description, allows people with limited vision to hear a description of
on-screen activity while also following the dialogue, providing a more fulsome
entertainment experience.
According to the National Federation of the Blind, more than 7 million
Americans have a visual disability. The new rules adopted today will ensure
that more video described programming is available to those who rely on it, and
also provide broadcast and nonbroadcast television networks more flexibility in
complying with the rules.
Beginning in July 2018, broadcasters and pay-TV providers carrying one of the
top networks must provide 87.5 hours of described programming per calendar
quarter, which averages out to roughly one hour per day of description on each
included network. This is an increase of 75 percent over the 50 hours per
quarter presently required. While the current 50 hour requirement must be
provided during prime-time or children’s programming, the additional 37.5 hours
per quarter being added by these new rules can be provided at any time of day
between 6 a.m. and midnight. The networks currently covered by the rule are
ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Disney Channel, History, TBS, TNT, and USA. However, the
list of the top five nonbroadcast networks will be updated in July 2018, so
this is subject to change.
With the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010,
Congress recognized the importance of ensuring that Americans with disabilities
have access to functionally-equivalent entertainment and communications
options. The new rules adopted by the Commission today take another important
step in implementing this law and furthering its
accessibility goals.
Video description is provided through the TV or set top box “secondary audio”
feature, which some TV controls identify as “SAP” or “secondary audio program.”
To learn more about video description, please see the FCC’s consumer guide:
https://go.usa.gov/xNF6a ;
<https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.usa.gov%2FxNF6a&h=ATNvHNpY5tFgljWllHGm8AF6vrGQOyI_2Ml03GryvVMRM6GJVVyPtb7ntnLcQX6swnB-xOoKlcmptmazPGWibr6jmnPAr6zyK7X-bzR_RuP0rBt29K6EKJ1j3LCXAkamnM4-JaSKHAiwKP_FJHWa8wxDuwE&enc=AZMgvg50gd38I3NZE9EYZiBkGiWGQiKHuS6F_kx-TyEFCwSRe582YEUQE4sOZXZk8-hUvhDr5J37YaQLQqF_oeG60iFt8vAVOUx8LNOVRBESNyWqp3wyS0npQv0uWTv7wB5uL7zCOxcAZCcDIMt0eKGiYk1S77igZQuUKvw7I1RNkoTldH47I3sZcpx7vmHvNr8P7N_ZzzC73uko5e6lhp9h&s=1>
Action by the Commission July 11, 2017 by Report and Order (FCC 17-88).
Chairman Pai and Commissioners Clyburn and O’Rielly approving and issuing
separate statements.
MB Docket No. 11-43
Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
ASL Videophone: 1-844-432-2275
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations
<https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fcc.gov%2Foffice-media-relations&h=ATMoF1AP5QEbf6BIHemTpcEEsRXiMJTvwdlVv1MXFjq3KuTWm38h3hnArPba1EF-nGvhPkFCi3SJfIYUrlOHHvCqZT2L-1DUyzIDhGTelxt5ifYYtu54e2SzkA06KrxBapo7pTg20QeLUViC89h4U3UdLsk&enc=AZNatPcKZm-BT4VTqi6iSCqzH-MGUxcLPNH29nWti_AwZg0D7Rg6GtWBHW79CxqHZwox2Ka6uOD5Jq82zA9EBcuosUrEy8aRose-407OWWqUrraMJf-AaEqKGm8v4i_qVucZQs7hceVvzWGbX1XdZqXh0HErnrXbh4SzGa5VSIf95e-QviQk-oEueY7Eb89GnC_KPNdEG8CH8A1W1CQ0yuEY&s=1>
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full
text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515
F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).
<https://mandrillapp.com/track/open.php?u=30489975&id=9fa9a53744f34a7d9b54a46e8fa0ab3c>