Sens. Markey, Luján, Reps. Dingell, Fitzpatrick Reintroduce Bill to Ensure Communication and Video Technologies Are Accessible to People with Disabilities

Sen Edward Markey (D-MA), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and author of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Reps Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Brian Fitzpatrick (D-PA-01) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act. This bill would update and strengthen the CVAA to ensure that people with disabilities have access to innovative communication and video technologies to ensure they can participate equally in employment, education, and other social and civic activities. Specifically, the CVTA would:

1. Improve and expand closed captioning and audio description standards for television programming and online video streaming programming to ensure people with disabilities have equitable access to the wide range of programming available to the general public;
2. Update current requirements to ensure viewers can easily activate and select preferred settings for closed captions and audio description on their video programming devices, such as televisions, smartphones, laptops, and tablets;
3. Improve access to video conferencing platforms for people with disabilities;
4. Ensure people with disabilities have equitable access to 9-1-1 emergency services; and
5. Empower the Federal Communications Commission to ensure accessibility regulations keep pace with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and virtual reality platforms.