Equal Access Bill Includes 911 Provisions

A bill signed by President Obama on Monday will upgrade existing law to require improved access to electronic communications for those with disabilities, and will also establish a committee to guide development of  a next-generation 911 (NG911) network so it’s accessible to all. The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 revises existing law on hearing aid compatibility, relay services, closed captioning and user interfaces on digital devices to improve their use by people who cannot see or hear, are paralyzed in some way or have speech disabilities. The changes will require both technical and interface changes for many devices, such as programming guides on TVs. The Act also requires formation of an Emergency Access Advisory Committee within 60 days, composed of “a balance between individuals with disabilities and other stakeholders,” including state and local government officials and subject matter experts. Within a year, the committee will conduct a survey, “to determine the most effective and efficient technologies and methods by which to enable access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities.” The committee will also submit their recommendations on how the future NG911 network can be designed, built and operated to provide equal access. Download (pdf) the Act here (read Section 108).