The Growth of Video Description in the Senate The month after Legislative Seminar ACB began the Video Description Challenge. The goal was to encourage as many legislators to co-sponsor or support S. 900 and HR. 951. Thanks to the hard work of members throughout the country, that Challenge has resulted in the addition of 8 new co-sponsors to the House bill (HR. 951).
This week a comprehensive communications bill was introduced in the Senate that will provide numerous amendments to the Communications Act of 1934, the bill number is S2686. This bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Steven (R-AK) and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI). The Senate video description bill (S. 900) was incorporated into this larger bill, S2686. This will provide another opportunity for the video description provisions to eventually pass into law.
The language of S2686 is not currently available, so we haven't yet had the opportunity to analyze the bill in its entirety and we don't know as of yet if we can support all the provisions of the bill. Other issues we will be looking at in terms of communications and telecommunication policy are broadband issues, accessibility of communications devices and ADA application. Stay tuned to find out more about this bill and possibly other important communications bills in the near future.
Nonetheless, this is still a big victory for Video Description. If you are from the States of Hawaii and Alaska please contact the offices of Sen. Stevens and Inouye and thank them from including the Television Information Enhancement for the Visually Impaired (TIVI) language in S. 2686. Below is the statement that was posted in the congressional record about the inclusion of the video description bill in S2686:
From the Congressional Record: May 1, 2006 (Senate) Page S3803-S3804 STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS By Mr. STEVENS (for himself and Mr. Inouye): S. 2686. A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation ...In addition, we have included S. 900, Senator McCain's Television Information Enhancement for the visually impaired act which Senator Inouye and I cosponsored, along with Senator Smith. That bill authorizes an existing FCC rule requiring TV stations to offer some video description of television shows so blind listeners will be able to follow the action. The existing rule was struck down by the courts on the grounds that the FCC lacked authority for such a rule. Today we provide them the authority they need. As the son of a father who was blind for a period of time, this is an issue of personal interest to me.
_________________________________
Krista Merritt, Policy Analyst
American Council of the Blind (ACB)
1155 15th St., NW, #1004
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-467-5081 / Fax: 202-467-5085
email:
kmerritt@acb.org