Online Captioning

Over the next two years, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act will be phased in. Designed to make digital media more accessible to the deaf and blind, the law expands Section 255 of the Communications Act. It requires certain products and services to be accessible). Now Section 255 includes technology like VoIP. Among other things, the new law requires:

• Smart phones must be compatible with hearing aids.
• Accessibility to the next generation of 911 emergency services.
• Major broadcasters and cable networks will be required to provide 50 hours of programming per week with video description.
• TV shows with closed captioning must include captions when reshown on the Internet.