Hearing on Web Access

Congress hold a hearing next Wednesday on legislation that would require all Web vendors, tech companies and phone manufacturers to adapt their products for deaf customers. The Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act would force all smartphones (like the iPhone and BlackBerry) to be compatible with most hearing aids. DVRs and mp3 players would have to support closed captioning. Democratic Senator John Kerry is co-sponsored along with Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor. They are calling the measure a technological addendum to the Americans With Disabilities Act.