Greetings. In case you've not heard:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-3304
From the CRS:
"Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act - Amends the
Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to require that all customer premises equipment used
with advanced communications services designed to provide two-way
voice communication via a built-in speaker intended to be held to the
ear in a manner functionally equivalent to a telephone must provide
internal means for effective use with hearing aids that are designed
to be compatible with telephones which meet established technical
standards for hearing aid compatibility. Defines "advanced
communications" as Internet-based protocol, or any successor protocol,
based devices and services that transmit voice, video conferencing,
and text communications, and any application or service accessed over
the Internet that provides for voice, video conferencing, or text
communications. Requires each interconnected VoIP service provider to
participate in, and contribute to, the Telecommunications Relay
Services Fund. Requires a manufacturer of equipment used for advanced
communications to ensure that the equipment and software it designs,
develops, and fabricates is accessible to, and usable by, individuals
with disabilities, where such requirement is achievable. Requires the
FCC to authorize Lifeline and Linkup assistance programs and other
federal universal service support mechanisms to be used for those
telecommunications services, Internet access services, and advanced
communications needed by qualified individuals with disabilities to
engage in communication with other individuals in a manner that is
functionally equivalent to the ability of individuals without
disabilities. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) enforcement and
reporting; (2) deaf-blind individuals; and (3) emergency access.
Establishes the Emergency Access and Real-time Text Advisory
Committee. Requires every provider of Internet access service and
every manufacturer of Internet access equipment to, where achievable,
make user interfaces for such service and equipment accessible to
individuals with disabilities. Sets forth provisions concerning closed
captioning decoder and video description capability, user interfaces,
and video programming guides and menus."
Happy Monday!
Cathy
Catherine H. Michael
Communications & Legal Studies Librarian
Ithaca College Library
Gannett Center 1201, 953 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
phone: 607-274-1293
http://comlaw.wordpress.com/
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control,
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and
distributors.
