NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 For Immediate Release: News Media Contact: July 22, 2011 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511 e-mail: rosemary.kimball@fcc.gov TWO REPORTS OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES ON DISABILITIES ISSUES RELEASED Reports Are on Closed Captioning of Video Programming Delivered Using Internet Protocol and Emergency Calling for Persons With Disabilities: Survey Review And Analysis Washington DC -- The Commission has posted on its website reports presented to the Commission by the Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee (VPAAC) and the Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC). Both committees were established in December 2010 by Chairman Julius Genachowski in response to provisions in the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). This landmark legislation is designed to ensure that people with disabilities have access to Twenty-first century communications and video programming technologies and is the most far-reaching legislation addressing the needs of people with disabilities since the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each of the advisory committees, established to aid the Commission in implementing the Act’s accessibility provisions, is comprised of representatives from a wide range of companies and consumer organizations with knowledge and expertise with respect to these matters. “Both the VPAAC and EAAC are to be commended for the extensive time, energy, and resources they have put into their reports. The Commission greatly appreciates all that each committee has achieved and looks forward to their continued efforts to provide the Commission with valuable information on these issues,” said Chairman Julius Genachowski. VPAAC Report The VPAAC is tasked with developing recommendations on closed captioning of Internet programming previously captioned on television; the compatibility between video programming delivered using Internet protocol and devices capable of receiving and displaying captioning, video description and emergency information on video programming; the provision of video description and accessible emergency information on television programming; accessible user interfaces on video programming devices; and accessible programming guides and menus. This first VPAAC report focuses on issues involving the transfer of closed captions provided on television programs to the online environment, including the identification of protocols, technical capabilities, and procedures needed to encode, transport, receive and render closed captioning of video programming delivered via the Internet. The First Report of the Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee on the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010; Closed Captioning of Video Programming Delivered Using Internet Protocol, is available at http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/VPAAC/First_VPAAC_Report_to_the_FCC_7-11-11_FINAL.pdf EAAC Report The CVAA directed that the EAAC be established for the purpose of achieving equal access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities as part of the nation’s migration to a national Internet protocol-enabled emergency network, also known as the next generation 9-1-1 system (“NG 9-1-1”). Specifically, the EAAC is charged with determining the most effective and efficient technologies and methods by which to enable access to NG 9-1-1 emergency services by individuals with disabilities. To fulfill this mission, the CVAA directed that within one year after the EAAC’s members were appointed, the Committee was to conduct a national survey of persons with disabilities and senior citizens to obtain feedback on the means by which people with disabilities access 9-1-1 services, as well as the emergency access preferences of such individuals in an NG 9-1-1 environment. The EAAC conducted its national survey, made available in English, American Sign Language, Spanish, and “easy-to-read” versions, in March and April 2011. 12,766 persons completed some or all of the survey online. The EAAC Report contains an in-depth review and analysis of the survey, which covered the full range of equipment and services used for reaching 9-1-1 emergency assistance, as well as all disability populations covered by the new law. In accordance with the CVAA, the EAAC will now use the results of the survey to develop and submit to the Commission recommendations to ensure equal access to the technologies used to access NG 9-1-1 services. The EAAC Report on Emergency Calling for Persons with Disabilities; Survey Review and Analysis 2011 is available at http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/EAAC/EAAC-REPORT.pdf - FCC - CGB contacts: VPAAC Pam Gregory (202) 418-2498 EAAC Cheryl King (202) 418-2284