STATEMENT OF
ACTING CHAIRWOMAN MIGNON CLYBURN
Re: Commemorating the 23
rd
Anniversary of the ADA with Implementation of the CVAA
Next Friday, July 26
th
, is the 23
rd
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act – the 
landmark legislation that has transformed the lives of our family, friends, and neighbors with 
disabilities.  For more than 50 million Americans, the ADA has opened the doors of opportunity 
to education, employment, and entertainment, as well as communication, community, civic 
action, and access.  This law impacts all of us, by better enabling our relatives and colleagues 
with disabilities to more fully participate in a non-discriminatory way.
Today, in commemoration, we focus on what could be called the “sister” to the ADA –
the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act.  The FCC has been 
moving aggressively to implement the CVAA, enacted right after the 20
th
anniversary of the
ADA, and I am proud to report that the Commission has hit every single key deadline set by the 
Act.
Many wonderful things can be said about the CVAA, but perhaps most important to me, 
is that this is a forward thinking law.  Rather than view the accessibility needs of people with 
disabilities as an afterthought in the design of new products and services, this law makes sure 
that these obligations are considered from the very beginning of design.  Building tomorrow’s 
devices for all – not just some – is not only the law, it’s the right thing to do.  
Thanks to the CVAA, people with disabilities now have more access to telephones, television, 
the Internet, and new applications and services.  High-speed Internet and mobile technologies 
offer an unprecedented opportunity to enhance the independence, productivity, and overall 
quality of life for all of us, including people with disabilities – but only if they are accessible.  
And the CVAA is making this happen.  I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the 
champions of this legislation in Congress, Senator Mark Pryor and Senator Ed Markey, for 
making this law a reality.  
When Congress passed the baton to us to implement the CVAA, we ran with it.  We met 
some very tight deadlines over the past three years, and these were only possible through the 
perseverance and commitment of an incredible staff in virtually every bureau and office in the 
Commission.  I wish to thank the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, the Media 
Bureau, the Wireless Bureau, the Office of General Counsel, the Enforcement Bureau and others 
for your leadership and guidance.  
I want to express my deep appreciation for the enthusiasm and participation of those who 
played a role in making sure that we stayed on our toes, in getting done what needed to be done.  
And my gratitude extends to those Commissioners, past and present, for helping to advance this 
most important of causes.  
And finally, these expressions would not be complete if I failed to acknowledge Karen Peltz 
Strauss, one of government’s greatest champions.  Her watchful eye, and listening ear, continue 
to augment the lives of millions of Americans who will forever benefit from her amazing talents.  
Thank you Karen, and to all of those hard-working individuals who have carried the baton on 
these issues.
? Because of the work that Commission staff has done, 36 million Americans who are deaf 
or have hearing loss, can watch television programs with closed captions, when those 
programs are re-shown over the Internet; and use their cell phones, tablets and other 
portable wireless devices, to watch these programs with captions. 
? 25 million Americans who are blind or visually impaired, can enjoy TV programs with 
video description; and will, over the next few years, be able to navigate a TV menu, send 
an email or instant message on a smart phone, and have access to emergency information 
on TV.
? Thousands of people who are deaf-blind can receive accessible communication devices 
so they can make telephone calls and access the Internet, to work, learn, and shop, like 
everyone else. 
? And because of the Commission’s work, Americans with disabilities are able to locate 
accessible communication products and services through the Commission’s new 
accessibility clearinghouse. 
The CVAA has given us a unique opportunity to harness the power of new wireless, digital, 
and broadband technologies and improve the lives of people with disabilities.  As long as I am 
able to serve, promoting greater accessibility in communications for people with disabilities will 
remain a top policy priority.
So many people have been a part of this movement, including my colleagues here on the 
bench, numerous outside parties, and our friends in the consumer electronics, communication 
services, and video programming industries.  But in particular, I’d like to acknowledge four 
outstanding advocates who are here with us today:  Claude Stout of Telecommunications for the 
Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Andrew Phillips of the National Association of the Deaf, Mark 
Richert of the American Foundation for the Blind, and Al Sonnenstrahl, a longstanding 
champion of telecommunications access.  They have helped move the ball down the field on 
these and so many other issues, and I am eternally grateful for their passion and efforts.
I am equally thankful for the hardworking staff here at the FCC, whose names are now 
displayed on the monitors, who have worked tirelessly to turn thought into action, and they 
collectively occupy a special place in my heart.  They embody the very best part of public 
service, and the belief that the American government truly works for the people.  I commend 
them, and I feel so lucky to be associated with them.