In the November 2nd blog post, we told you about the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, which was signed into law in October 2010. The act was designed to improve access to modern communications technologies for persons with disabilities. This week’s post describes in greater detail the impact the act’s provisions will have on persons with visual impairments. This information is courtesy the American Council of the Blind. (Follow this link for their complete discussion of the CVAA – http://www.acb.org/adp/commact.html
Video Description
The CVAA includes provisions that affect video description. Video description involves the accessibility of visual images that occur during videos that may not be accompanied by dialogue or other sound effects that would otherwise make clear what is happening. Voiceover narration describing body language, scenery changes, and other non-verbal actions will be included in the video in between the dialogue and other sounds.
Under the CVAA,
• One year after the bill becomes law, it restores FCC rules requiring 4 hours per week of video description on 9 television channels (top 4 broadcast networks and top 5 cable channels) in the top 25 most populated markets.
• Two years after the bill becomes law, the FCC is required to report to Congress on video description.
• After four years the bill permits the FCC to increase video description to 7 hours per week on 9 television channels.
• After six years, the FCC is required to apply the video description requirements to the top 60 most populated markets (not just the top 25 most populated markets).
• After nine years, the FCC is required to report to Congress on the need for additional markets to carry video description.
• After 10 years, the bill permits the FCC to expand video description to 10 new markets annually to achieve 100 percent nationwide coverage.
Video Programming and Recording Equipment
Other parts of the bill pertain to devices that can play videos; the goal is to make sure that these devices are capable of playing
video description. Also, it is important that these devices are capable of playing video description that reads emergency announcements that are broadcast over video.
Under the CVAA,
• Devices designed to receive or play back video programming, using a picture screen of any size, must be capable of delivering available video description, and making emergency information accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision.
• Devices that record video programming (such as DVRs) must be designed so that viewers can turn the video description on/off when playing recorded video.
User Interfaces on Digital Apparatus
The legislation requires devices that receive or play back video programming be designed so that they can be accessed by persons who are blind or low-vision. This means making the menus that let the viewer control the video (such as hitting “play, “ “rewind,” etc.).
Under the CVAA,
• Devices that receive or play back video programming should have controls of built-in functions that are accessible to and usable by individuals who are blind or have low vision, if achievable;
• Cable/satellite set-top box on-screen text menus and guides must be audibly accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision, if achievable.
