The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA), Hilda Solis (D-CA) and Barney Frank (D-MA). The bill includes the following specific measures:
Communications Access:
- Requires access to phone-type equipment and services used over the
Internet. - Adds improved accountability and enforcement measures for accessibility, including a clearinghouse and reporting obligations by providers and manufacturers.
- Requires telephone products used with the Internet to be hearing-aid compatible.
- Allows use of Lifeline and Link-up universal service funds (USF) for
broadband services. - Allocates up to $10 million/year from USF for equipment used by people
who are deaf-blind. - Clarifies the scope of relay services to include calls between and
among people with disabilities and require Internet-based service
providers to contribute to the Interstate Relay Fund.
- Requires decoder circuitry in all video programming devices.
- Extends the closed captioning obligations to television-type video programming distributed over the Internet: covers programming that would otherwise be covered by the FCC's captioning rules, not user-generated content.
- Requires easy access to closed captions via remote control, on-screen
menus. - Requires easy access by blind people to television controls and program selection menus.
- Restores video description rules and requires access to televised emergency programming for people who are blind or have low vision.