Senate committee approves new technology accessibility standards
The Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation that would require electronics companies to make their products more accessible to the hearing and vision impaired, extending the promise of cutting-edge technologies to millions of disabled Americans.
The legislation mandates that an array of accessibility features, including closed captioning, must be available on new smart phones and Internet videos.
Before the vote, Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) passionately spoke about the importance of the proposed law:
"I have worked my entire career to bring the power and the promise of new communications technology to every corner of my state. I have seen the opportunity it creates for our communities, for changing education, improving healthcare, and strengthening local businesses. We have a responsibility to make sure that kind of opportunity is available to everyone. Period."
July marks the twentieth anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, making this a particularly appropriate moment to update its provisions for the twenty-first century.
To read Speed Matters' Fact Sheet on how broadband Internet empowers disabled Americans, click here.
Benefits – Enabling People With Disabilities (Speed Matters)
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