For the second time in 11 years, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered television networks to provide audio descriptions of actions on screen to assist blind and visually impaired viewers.

 

The FCC issued similar rules in 2000. But the networks fought the mandate in federal court and won, with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruling that the FCC lacked sufficient authority to issue the rules.

 

But thanks to the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, the FCC does possess such authority and. using it, reinstated the rules from 2000.

 

Now, the top four national broadcast networks in the top 25 television markets will have to provide 50 hours of video-described prime time and/or children’s programming each quarter. Cable or satellite systems with more than 50,000 subscribers must provide 50 hours of video-described programming for each of the five most popular channels they carry on their system.

 

The rules go into effect on October 8. But networks and stations have until July 1, 2012, to come into full compliance.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

TV Descriptions Return for Visually Impaired Consumers (by Travis Sanford, Courthouse News Service)

FCC Sets New Rules For Video Descriptions (by Harry Jessell, TVNewsCheck)

21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (National Association of the Deaf)