Federal Communications Commission	DA 20-338


DA 20-338
Released:  March 26, 2020

CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU EXTENDS
COMMENT DEADLINE FOR THE 2020 BIENNIAL REPORT ON ACCESSIBILITY UNDER THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO ACCESSIBILITY ACT

Comment Date Extended
CG Docket No. 10-213

Comment Date: April 14, 2020
	The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB or Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) extends the due date from March 30, 2020 to April 14, 2020 to file comments in connection with the Bureau’s preparation of its biennial report to Congress required by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). Pub. L. No. 111-260, 124 Stat. 2751 (2010) (as codified in various sections of 47 U.S.C.); Pub. L. No. 111-265, 124 Stat. 2795 (2010). 
  

On March 2, 2020 the Bureau issued a Public Notice seeking comment in connection with the preparation of the report and setting March 30, 2020 as the due date. Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Seeks Comment on the Accessibility of Communications Technologies for the 2020 Biennial Report Required by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, CG Docket No. 10-213, Public Notice, DA 20-126 (March 2, 2020) (Public Notice), available at https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-seeks-comment-accessibility-communications-technology-0.
  On March 24, 2020, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc., and other consumer groups (Consumer Groups) requested a 15-day extension in light of the National Emergency Declaration concerning the COVID-19 (coronavirus) and associated disruptions. Letter from Brett P. Ferenchak, Counsel to Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc., to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, filed in CD Docket No. 10-213 (March 24, 2020), available at https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1032421299978/Request%20for%20Extension.pdf.  
 

As set forth in section 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.46.
 it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted.  However, we find that Consumer Groups have shown good cause for the requested extension of the deadlines, given the current state of emergency. Executive Office of the President, Proclamation on Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak (March 13, 2020), https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-declaring-national-emergency-concerning-novel-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-outbreak/.
  Because extending the comment deadline will allow interested parties to participate in the comment process during this unusual time, we find that the public interest will be served by granting a 15-day extension of time to file comments. 

	Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).  ECFS is at www.fcc.gov/ecfs.  
  All comments should refer to CG Docket No. 10-213.  Complete filing instructions are contained in the Public Notice. Public Notice at paras. 16-20.  To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 844-432-2275 (videophone), or 202-418-0432 (TTY).  
  For further information regarding this notice, contact Darryl Cooper, Attorney-Advisor, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 202-418-7131, Darryl.Cooper@fcc.gov.   
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