FYI.
From: AFB DirectConnect [mailto:mrichert=afb....@mail84.atl91.mcsv.net] On Behalf Of AFB DirectConnect Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2016 7:21 AM Subject: Demand More Described TV! Weigh in on Web Accessibility! <http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=2053d082f7&e=bdb3c6f250> View this email in your browser Calling All Advocates! Two Emails to <mailto:comme...@afb.net> comme...@afb.net Can Make a Difference: Demand More Described TV! Weigh in on Web Accessibility!! Read this email online at the following link: <http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=d8c2f4e123&e=bdb3c6f250> http://www.afb.org/community/announcements/demand-more-described-tv-weigh-in-on-web-accessibility/12 For further information, contact: Mark Richert, Esq. Director, Public Policy, AFB (202) 469-6833 <mailto:mrich...@afb.net> mrich...@afb.net The American Council of the Blind and the American Foundation for the Blind recently hosted a national conversation on the need to let our federal officials know how our community feels about two important issues, described TV and web accessibility. We hope to post a recording of the teleconference soon, but in the meantime, we want to give you some pointers on how you can make your voices heard. This year marks the 26th anniversary of the signing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each year, advocates look for ways in which to properly commemorate the ADA and to celebrate the promise of equal access that it represents. This year, we have a unique opportunity to raise our voices on behalf of equal access, and you are invited to be a part of this nationwide effort. Described TV In an exciting development, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing to expand the number of hours of described television that will be required of the nation's top networks. It is critical that the FCC hear from as many of us as possible with our expressions of support for their proposal and to help build a strong record showing how important, useful, and enjoyable described TV is for our community. Web Accessibility On a much less happy front, the Obama Administration has determined, yet again, to delay movement on the issuance of regulations clarifying the application of the ADA to online-only places of public accommodation. Most recently, the Administration scuttled a set of proposed federal regulations developed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) which, once finalized, would have provided even greater clarity about the web accessibility obligations of state and local governments. Now, to try and pick up the pieces, the DOJ is asking advocates yet again to weigh in and share our views on the importance of web access to governmental programs and services. How You Can Help All advocates are urged to let the FCC and the DOJ know how you feel about these two issues. And we are happy to make that process easy for you. Please consider writing two very brief emails, one on described TV, and one on web accessibility, and send them to: <mailto:comme...@afb.net> comme...@afb.net When you write your emails, be sure to include your physical mailing address in the body of your email; doing so confirms that the email is authentic. We will file your comments for you with the right federal agency. Below, please find example emails for you to model your own individual messages on; please do not just copy this text for your own messages; be sure to make your brief emails unique to you by telling your own stories and expressing your point of view in your own way. We are, however, asking that you refer to the ACB comments filed with the FCC on audio description and also the ACB resolution on web accessibility. _____ Sample Emails Described TV To Whom It May Concern: My name is [your name], and I live at [your home address]. I am writing to urge the FCC to make more audio description available on TV, and I am writing in support of the comments of the American Council of the Blind filed in this proceeding. ACB’s comments can be found at the following link: <http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=72509698f6&e=bdb3c6f250> http://acb.org/adp/docs/ACB%20Response%20to%0FCC%206-23-16.pdf I love having my television shows audio described, but many of my favorite shows are not. The proposal you're making will mean that I can enjoy many more of the programs I enjoy. Thank you for proposing to increase the number of required hours of described programming and increasing the number of networks that must offer audio description. Sincerely, [your name] Web Accessibility To Whom It May Concern: My name is [your name], and I live at [your home address]. I am writing because I am deeply disappointed that the Obama Administration has not delivered on its promise to issue much-needed clarifying regulations about the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the Internet. Specifically, I am frustrated with the lack of any progress on regulations making it clear that online-only places of public accommodation are nevertheless covered by the ADA. While I do appreciate the Justice Department's willingness to continue exploring how state and local governments can do better online, I do not feel that it is appropriate to ask about the relative costs and benefits of Internet accessibility. People with disabilities have a civil right to accessible governmental programs and activities and to commercial businesses' goods and services. We do not have to justify our need for accessible websites on the basis of whether the benefits outweigh the costs. I feel very strongly about this, and I am in agreement with a recent resolution of the American Council of the Blind that speaks to this issue. I am providing the text of the resolution below. Thank you, [your name] _____ Resolution 2016-05 Whereas, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted when the Internet was still in its infancy; and Whereas, an array of court decisions continues to make application of the ADA to online-only places of public accommodation uncertain; and Whereas, on the 20th anniversary of the ADA in 2010, the Obama Administration publically acknowledged the need for clarifying regulations in this area but has consistently thwarted efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to make progress on this critical regulatory agenda; and Whereas, most recently, the Obama Administration scuttled plans to release a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on the ADA’s application to state and local government Internet accessibility obligations; and Whereas, while bringing some further attention to state and local governmental entities’ Internet accessibility obligations is always in order, organizations of and for people who are blind or visually impaired have rather been demanding action on the obligations of public accommodations operating exclusively online and not on state and local governments for which Internet accessibility obligations have never been in doubt; and Whereas, in a vain attempt to portray regulatory progress regarding Internet accessibility, the DOJ has most recently issued a so-called supplemental advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (SANPRM) concerning state and local governments which asks many of the same insulting questions DOJ posed for public comment in previous proceedings demanding evidence of the relative costs and benefits of Internet accessibility; and Whereas, no civil right whether started at Seneca Falls, Selma or Stonewall, or sought in Silicon Valley or cyberspace no civil right should ever be sold at auction; Now, therefore, be it resolved by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled on the 8th day of July, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, that this organization express its profound frustration and disappointment with the Obama Administration for its failure to be responsive to Americans with vision loss who, for more than a decade, have been calling for much-needed regulatory clarification of the Americans with Disabilities Act’s application to online-only places of public accommodation; and Be it further resolved that this organization reach out to the major party candidates for President of the United States to communicate our demand that, within the first six months of the new presidency, issuance of regulations clarifying that online-only places of public accommodation are nevertheless ADA-covered entities with Internet accessibility obligations must be achieved. Adopted. Ray Campbell, Secretary _____ Don't Forget! Send your emails to: <mailto:comme...@afb.net> comme...@afb.net Please send your emails in as soon as you can, but no later than Monday, July 25. Thank you very much for your advocacy! <http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=2ceafbfac6&e=bdb3c6f250> <http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=d39901b45c&e=bdb3c6f250> Unsubscribe instructions You are receiving this message because at some point you subscribed to the AFB DirectConnect newsletter. 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