Video description makes television programming more accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Video description is the insertion of audio descriptions of a television program's key visual elements into natural pauses in the program's dialogue.
The recently enacted Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 requires the Commission to reinstate rules regarding the provision of video description by television broadcasters and paid television providers (MVPDs).
On March 3, 2011, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on requiring affected broadcasters to provide 50 hours per quarter of video-described prime time or children’s programming; requiring affected MVPDs providing the same amount on each of the five most popular non-broadcast networks; requiring all network-affiliated broadcasters and all MVPDs to “pass through” any video description included in network or broadcast programming they carry; and exempting live or near-live programming from the proposed rules.
Rulemaking:
3/3/11
FCC Proposes to Update Rules Allowing Accessibility to Advanced Communications to 54 Million Consumers With Disabilities.
News Release: Word| Acrobat
NPRM, Video Description Rules: Word| Acrobat
NPRM, Advanced Communications Services: Word| Acrobat
NPRM, TRS Fund: Word| Acrobat
Genachowski Statement: Word| Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word| Acrobat
