Federal Communications Commission	DA 22-1010


DA 22-1010
Released: September 26, 2022
	
FCC ANNOUNCES THIRD VIDEO PROGRAMMING ACCESSIBILITY FORUM 

Forum Focusing on Emergency Information Will Be Held on October 6th 

GN Docket No. 21-140

By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission announces a virtual event, the Video Programming Accessibility Forum – Emergency Information on October 6, 2022, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET.  The FCC’s Media Bureau and Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau will co-host this third accessibility-related Forum focused on accessibility issues surrounding emergency information in video programming. The forum will address the emergency information covered by section 79.2 of the Commission’s rules, and not the Emergency Alert System covered by Part 11 of the Commission’s rules.  See 47 CFR § 79.2 and Part 11.
  

The Commission’s rules define “emergency information” as “[i]nformation, about a current emergency, that is intended to further the protection of life, health, safety, and property, i.e., critical details regarding the emergency and how to respond to the emergency.” 47 CFR § 79.2(a)(2).
  To ensure that individuals with disabilities can avail themselves of emergency information, the rules contain requirements governing the accessibility of televised emergency information. Id. § 79.2(b)(1).
  When emergency situations, such as wildfires or hurricanes, occur, it is critical that viewers with disabilities are able to access emergency information.  

The Video Programming Accessibility Forum – Emergency Information will explore the current state of emergency information in video programming, as well as advancements that may occur in the future.  The Forum will include two panels that will feature speakers representing television companies and consumer groups.  The full agenda for the Forum is attached.

This is a public event and will be streamed live on fcc.gov/live and the FCC’s YouTube channel.  We encourage the public and interested stakeholders to engage in this discussion by sending questions during the event to livequestions@fcc.gov.  Up-to-date information regarding the Forum can be found on the event page:  https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2022/10/video-programming-accessibility-forum-emergency-information.  Commission staff will enter information about the panel, including all relevant public notices, the agenda, and a link to a video recording of the event, into the public record for this proceeding. 

The meeting will be webcast with open captioning and sign language interpreters at www.fcc.gov/live.  Additional reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.  Include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you if we need more information.  Make your request as early as possible.  Last minute requests will be accepted but may be impossible to fill.  Send an e-mail to:  FCC504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and  Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice).

For further information, contact Diana Sokolow, Diana.Sokolow@fcc.gov, of the Policy Division, Media Bureau, (202) 418-0588, or Bill Wallace, William.Wallace@fcc.gov, of the Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, (202) 418-2716.  Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in ASL may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).


– FCC –



  



VIDEO PROGRAMMING ACCESSIBILITY FORUM
EMERGENCY INFORMATION

CO-SPONSORED BY THE MEDIA BUREAU AND 
THE CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU

October 6, 2022
1:00 pm ET

FORUM AGENDA

1:00 pm:		Introduction 
			Alejandro Roark, Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Agenda Introduction
			Diane Burstein, Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Overview of Relevant FCC Rules
Suzy Rosen Singleton, Chief, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

1:15 pm:	PANEL  A – Current State of Accessibility of Emergency Information 

			Opening Remarks and Panel Moderator
Bill Wallace, Attorney Advisor, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Panelists
Lise Hamlin, Director of Public Policy, Hearing Loss Association of America
Anil Lewis, Executive Director of Blindness Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind
Josh Pila, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Gray Television
Pat Stahl, Vice President of Technology, ABC Owned Stations

2:00 pm:		Break

2:05 pm:	PANEL B – Anticipated Future Advancements in Emergency Information

Opening Remarks and Panel Moderator
Diana Sokolow, Attorney Advisor, Policy Division, Media Bureau

Panelists
Kim Charlson, Executive Director, Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library, Perkins School for the Blind
Kelly T. Williams, Vice President, Engineering and Technology Policy, National Association of Broadcasters
Javier J. Garcia, Senior Vice President, Local Media Engineering, Televisa Univision

2:50 pm:		Closing Remarks
			Diane Burstein, Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau