{"id":305,"date":"2011-11-02T10:12:35","date_gmt":"2011-11-02T14:12:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.equipmentlink.org\/blog\/?p=305"},"modified":"2011-11-28T13:38:45","modified_gmt":"2011-11-28T18:38:45","slug":"web-tip-wednesday-1122011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.equipmentlink.org\/blog\/?p=305","title":{"rendered":"Introducing the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00adLast October, Congress passed into law the 21st <\/sup>Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). Visit this
\nlink for the full text of the CVAA [http:\/\/thomas.loc.gov\/cgi-bin\/query\/z?c111:h3101<\/a>] The CVAA updates the Communications Act, which was discussed in a previous AT Blog post, so that its protections are extended to modern technologies, including Internet and digital technologies.\u00a0The provisions are designed to increase access for persons with visual and\/or auditory disabilities to programs broadcast on television and the Internet, improve user interfaces for smart phones and other mobile devices, and improve accessibility of DVD players and other video-related devices.<\/p>\n

The CVAA is considered one of the most significant accessibility efforts since the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990. When President Obama signed the bill into law last year, he remarked, \u201cNow, the bill I\u2019m signing today into law will better ensure full participation in our democracy and our economy for Americans with disabilities.\u00a0 The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act will make it easier for people who are deaf, blind or live with a visual impairment to do what many of us take for granted — from navigating a TV or DVD menu to sending an email on a smart phone.\u00a0 It sets new standards so that Americans with disabilities can take advantage of the technology our economy depends on.\u00a0 And that\u2019s especially important in today\u2019s economy, when every worker needs the necessary skills to compete for the jobs of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the full text of President Obama\u2019s\u00a0remarks during the signing of the CVAA, visit this link.
\n[http:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/the-press-office\/2010\/10\/08\/remarks-president-signing-21st-century-communications-and-video-accessib<\/a>]<\/p>\n

The CVAA sets out a timeline for the exploration and improvement of these accessibility measures, which are to be overseen by the Federal Communications Commission. The timeline includes:<\/p>\n