Congress has responded to the need for access and opportunity for individuals with disabilities by passing landmark legislation in a range of areas: education, employment, tax policy, transportation and assistive technology.  Read more on the history of the ADA, and other access and opportunity issues for individuals with disabilities.

ADA Anniversary Congratulatory letter from FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin:
Word | Acrobat

The Federal Communications Commission has the responsibility for the following portion of the ADA:

TITLE IV--TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Sec. 401. Telecommunications relay services for persons with hearing or visual disabilities.
 

Telecommunications Relay Services

One of the major initiatives and great accomplishments of the ADA was ensuring that Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) is accessible to those with hearing and speech disabilities round the clock. TRS is an innovation allowing individuals with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate over the telephone. “Traditional” TRS, the first development in this field, involves the individual with a hearing or speech disability typing his or her message on a special machine called a TTY. This message goes to a communications assistant (CA) who then verbalizes the message to the other party in the conversation. When the other party speaks the CA then types the message back to the user with a hearing or speech disability; the CA remains transparent throughout the call.

Though “traditional” TRS is still widely used today, the definition of TRS has expanded significantly since it was first established by the ADA, and now includes Speech-to-Speech Services, Voice Carry-Over Relay, Hearing Carry-Over Relay, Video Relay Service, Internet Protocol Relay and captioned telephones. The progress made in these communications has been truly amazing and as a result individuals with hearing and speech disabilities have greater access to telephone communication than ever before. In order to appreciate how far TRS has come over the past 15 years, visit the TRS History Docket.  There you will find a complete list of summaries and citations of TRS Orders, Public Notices, etc.

Factsheets

• 711  -  para el servicio de retransmisión de telecomunicaciones
• IP Relay
• Payphone Relay Service
• TRS  -  Servicios de Retransmisión de Telecomunicaciones
• VRS  -  Servicios de Retransmisión de Video
• TRS compensation rates:
  • Order: Word | Acrobat
  • Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
  • Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
• Commission Clarifies that Two-line Captioned Telephone Service is Eligible for Compensation from the Interstate TRS Fund.
  • News Release: Word | Acrobat
  • Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
  • Abernathy Statement: Word | Acrobat
  • Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
  • Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat

   

Video Relay Services (VRS)

Video demonstration of VRS

Video Relay Service (VRS) was first recognized as a form of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) in 2000 and has grown dramatically in popularity over the past five years. Notably, deaf and hard of hearing individuals are logging nearly 2 million minutes of VRS use per month, a ten-fold increase over two years. VRS, which uses a computer and a broadband Internet connection, allows a person with a hearing or speech disability to communicate in American Sign Language, the natural language of many individuals with hearing and speech disabilities. The user logs on to their computer and accesses a VRS provider’s website where he or she is connected with a communications assistant (CA) who can see the user via a camera built into the user’s computer. The CA then places a call for the user and relays the user’s signed messages into speech for the other party and vice-versa. This incredible innovation allows a conversation to flow in near real-time, a great advancement over other forms of TRS.

7/14/05
New Rules Adopted to Improve Video Relay Service.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Abernathy Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat

7/14/05
ASL-Spanish Translation Video Relay Service Eligible for Compensation from Interstate TRS Fund.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Abernathy Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat

Closed Captioning of Public Service Announcements

Section 402 of the ADA (47 USC § 611) requires that any television public service announcement that is produced or funded in whole or in part by the Federal Government shall include closed captioning of the verbal content of such announcement. While the broadcaster is not responsible to supply the captioning, broadcast licensees must transmit the closed captioning.

Other Disability Issues

Closed Captioning (47 CFR § 79.1)

CLOSED CAPTIONING TURNS 25!

The FCC is pleased to celebrate the 25th anniversary of closed captioning, the technology that provides visual text to describe dialogue, background noise and sound effects on television programming. We are proud to have been a part of the development of the tool that provides individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing with access to video programming on television. Beginning with the designation of spectrum exclusively for closed captioning in 1976, Congress and the FCC have taken many steps to ensure that television is accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing through closed captioning. See the closed captioning timeline for more information on the development of this tremendous resource for those with hearing disabilities.

While the FCC celebrates the great progress made over the past 25 years since closed captioning first debuted, we continue to make closed captioning a priority in our rules and regulations. In 1998, the FCC began requiring the gradual phase-in of closed captioning for all video programming, and January 1, 2006 marks the date that 100% of all new programming, with certain exceptions, must be closed captioned, a giant step forward for those who rely on this technology for information. Additionally, the FCC has taken steps to ensure that closed captioning is maintained as we enter the digital age of television. In 2000, the FCC adopted rules requiring that 100% of all non-exempt digital programs also are captioned by January 1, 2006. Finally, the FCC is also working to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking Americans. FCC regulations require that 100% of all new non-exempt Spanish-language programming be closed captioned by 2010. These rules reflect the Commission’s continuing goal of providing all Americans with access to television video programs.

For more information on closed captioning, be sure to see the Closed Captioning Factsheet

Subtitulación de programas

7/14/05
FCC Launches Review of Closed Captioning Rules.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
Abernathy Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat

Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990

In 1990, in an effort to make closed captioning more widely available, Congress passed the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990. This Act required that after July 1, 1993, all television receivers manufactured in or imported into the U.S. with a screen size of 13 inches or larger must be capable of receiving and displaying closed captions. In passing this Act, Congress made closed captioning available to many people who did not previously have the decoder boxes necessary to view closed captioning. The FCC responded in 1991 by adopting rules to implement the Act, specifying technical standards for the reception and display of closed captioning. In 1992 the FCC adopted technical standards for closed captioning of cable systems. Passage of the Act caused a significant increase in the amount of closed captioned video programming and the FCC has since taken subsequent steps to require all new non-exempt video programming to be captioned by January 1, 2006.

Access to Emergency Information on Television
(47 CFR § 79.2)

The FCC implements rules that require broadcasters, cable operators, and other multichannel video programming distributors to make emergency information (e.g., pertaining to storms, school closings, and other emergencies) that they provide to their viewers accessible to persons with hearing and vision disabilities. Accessibility of Emergency Video Programming Factsheet

Accesso a Programas de Video de Emergencia para Personas con Impedimentos Auditivos y Visuales

The Commission recently issued three Proposed Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NALF) against three broadcast licensees in the Washington, D.C. area, regarding making emergency information about tornados and heavy thunderstorms accessible to persons with hearing disabilities. In February 2005, the FCC issued three NALFs to three broadcast licensees in the San Diego, CA area regarding this issue and wildfires.

Check out our Emergency Access page

Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC)

On July 26, 2004, President Bush signed Executive Order No. 13347, which established the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC). This Executive Order required that disability access be considered in emergency planning and that an annual report be submitted to the President.

The Federal Communications Commission has played an active role in the ICC since its inception. The FCC Chairs the Emergency Communications Subcommittee, and is a member of the following subcommittees: Technical Assistance and Outreach; Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace; Emergency Transportation.

On July 22, 2005, the ICC will adopt the Annual Report and launch an electronic resource center on emergency preparedness planning for persons with disabilities as well as an emergency preparedness planning template for employers of persons with disabilities.

ICC website:
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0591.xml

ICC inquiries:
mailto:disabilitypreparedness@dhs.gov

Disability Preparedness Resource Center

Section 255

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules requiring telecommunications manufacturers and service providers to make their products and services accessible to people with disabilities, if readily achievable. Our rules implement Section 255 of the Communications Act.

To learn more about Section 255, please visit our Section 255 website or see our Section 255 Factsheet.

Sección 255 Acceso a las telecomunicaciones para personas discapacitadas.

As a result of Section 255, many telecommunications companies have established websites that focus on products accessible and usable to persons with disabilities. To view a small sample of these sites, visit:

• Audex
• Cingular
• CTIA—The Wireless Association
• Lomar Logic Corporation
• Motorola
• Nextel
Nokia
• Panasonic
• Quest
• Samsung
• SureWest
• Ultratec
• Verizon
• Verizon Wireless
• WyndTell

Hearing Aid Compatibility

The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act) requires that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ensure that all telephones manufactured or imported for use in the United States after August 1989, and all "essential" telephones are hearing aid compatible. The FCC established rules requiring landline and cordless telephones be compatible with hearing aids. Recently, the FCC established requirements for some digital wireless telephones to be hearing aid compatible (HAC), and developed a phase-in period for compliance. The FCC also requires that wireless phones be rated according to their hearing aid compatibility.

Be sure to visit the Fact Sheets and website for more information on telephone hearing aid compatibility.

FCC’s website on Hearing Aid Compatibility
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/hearing.html

FCC’s Fact Sheet on Traditional Telephone Hearing Aid Compatibility
Hearing Aid Compatibility Compliance for Traditional Telephone Equipment Fact sheet

Compatibilidad de Audífonos con Aparatos Telefónicos Tradicionales

FCC’s Advisory on Digital Wireless Handset Hearing Aid Compatibility
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/accessiblewireless.html

Leyes de la FCC para promover el uso de teléfonos celulares digitales para personas con discapacidad auditiva

The wireless industry, along with consumers who use hearing aids and academia, have launched an outreach campaign on the new digital wireless phones that are hearing aid compatible called, “Get the Buzz Out”. To read more about the wireless industry’s efforts to make phones hearing aid compatible, visit Access Wireless, an industry-led website on accessibility to wireless communications.