April 16 (legislative day, April 14), 2026
Mr. Markey (for himself and Mr. Luján) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To update the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010.
Section 1. Short title; table of contents
(a) Short title
This Act may be cited as the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026
.
(b) Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Title I Closed captioning and audio description
Sec. 101. Definitions
(a) Video programming accessibility definitions
Section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (a);
(2)
by moving subsection (a), as so redesignated, so that it appears immediately before subsection (b); and
(3)
in subsection (a), as so redesignated—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
by striking television program's key visual elements
and inserting the key visual elements of a video program or consumer generated media
; and
(ii)
by striking the program's dialogue
and inserting the dialogue of the program or media
;
(B)
by striking paragraph (2); and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2) Live programming
The term live programming has the meaning given the term in section 79.1 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(3) Near-live programming
The term near-live programming has the meaning given the term in section 79.1 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(4) Online video programming
The term online video programming means video programming delivered using internet protocol or any successor protocol.
(5) Prerecorded programming
The term prerecorded programming has the meaning given the term in section 79.1 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(6) Video programming
The term video programming—
(A)
means programming by, or generally considered comparable to programming provided by, a television broadcast station or nonbroadcast network, including programming delivered using internet protocol or any successor protocol;
(B)
includes—
(i)
programming provided on demand at the request of a viewer; and
(ii)
programming streamed live or at a prescribed time or times to all or a subset of viewers; and
(C)
does not include consumer generated media.
(b) Disability
In this Act, the term disability has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
Sec. 102. Closed captioning
Section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as subsections (e) through (h), respectively;
(2)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in the heading, by striking Deadlines
and inserting Requirements
;
(B)
in paragraph (1), in the heading, by striking In general
and inserting Deadlines for television programming captions
; and
(C)
by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following:
(2) Closed captioning regulations for online video programming and consumer generated media
(A) Closed captioning regulations for new online video programming
Not later than 12 months after the date of submission of the recommendations to the Commission under section 106(d)(1) of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall revise its regulations, taking into account those recommendations, to require all online video programming that is first made available on or after the effective date of the revised regulations to be fully accessible through the provision, receipt, and display of closed captioning, except as provided in subsection (e).
(B) Schedule
The regulations revised under subparagraph (A) shall include an appropriate schedule of deadlines, the earliest of which shall be not less than 2 years after the effective date of the revised regulations and the latest of which shall be not more than 6 years after that effective date, for the provision, receipt, and display of closed captioning on online video programming that is first made available on or after the effective date of the revised regulations.
(C) Requirements for regulations
The regulations revised under subparagraph (A)—
(i)
shall ensure that English-language and Spanish-language online video programming that is first made available on or after the effective date of the revised regulations is fully accessible through the provision, receipt, and display of closed captions in the original language of the audio track of the programming;
(ii)
shall define the categories of entities involved in the delivery of online video programming and apportion the responsibilities for the provision, quality, pass-through, and rendering of closed captions among such entities to ensure that closed caption data—
(I)
remains with the video programming to which the data is added; and
(II)
is distributed in common formats so that closed captions can be exhibited intact by all other entities that subsequently make the programming available to viewers;
(iii)
may not distinguish between full-length programming and video clips; and
(iv)
for the purposes of determining closed captioning obligations under this section and assessing compliance with regulations of the Commission governing the quality of closed captioning, including under section 79.1 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, shall treat any video programming that was live programming or near-live programming at the time that it was initially made available to viewers as prerecorded programming if it is again made available to viewers more than 48 hours after its initial availability.
(D) Closed captioning regulations for older online video programming and on consumer generated media
(i) In general
Not later than 12 months after the date of submission of the recommendations to the Commission under section 106(d)(1) of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall prescribe regulations, taking into account those recommendations, to maximize, through the provision, receipt, and performance of closed captioning, the accessibility of—
(I)
online video programming that was first made available before the effective date of the revised regulations under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and
(II)
consumer generated media.
(ii) Requirement for consumer generated media
In prescribing regulations for consumer generated media under clause (i)(II), the Commission shall require that an entity engaged in making available consumer generated media, whether or not the entity is also engaged in making available video that is not consumer generated media, provides—
(I)
authoring tools that permit users who post videos on the entity’s platform to add closed captions;
(II)
timely and effective notice, at or before the time of upload, to users who post videos on the entity’s platform that such authoring tools are available for videos; and
(III)
guidance on how to use such authoring tools.
(E) Relation to previous requirements
The regulations revised or prescribed under subparagraphs (A) and (D) may not impair or preclude the applicability of, compliance with, or the enforcement of the requirements under this section or the regulations prescribed thereunder that were in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, including the requirement to provide closed captioning on video programming that is published or exhibited on television and subsequently delivered using internet protocol or any successor protocol.;
(3)
by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
(d) Caption quality updates
(1) In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of submission of the recommendations to the Commission under section 106(d)(1) of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall prescribe regulations, taking into account those recommendations, that extend the requirements for the quality of closed captions under section 79.1 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations, to all online video programming and consumer generated media for which closed captioning is required to be provided under subsection (c) or the regulations prescribed thereunder.
(2) Regular updates
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, and every 4 years thereafter, the Commission shall—
(A)
review its regulations and associated deadlines pertaining to the quality of closed captions; and
(B)
as necessary, update the regulations and associated deadlines described in subparagraph (A) to reflect technological and methodological advances.; and
(4)
in subsection (e), as so redesignated—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking subsection (b)
and inserting subsections (b) and (c)
; and
(B)
in paragraph (1), by striking provider or owner of such programming
and inserting entity responsible for publishing, exhibiting, or making available such programming.
.
Sec. 103. Audio description
(a) In general
Subsection (g) of section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613), as redesignated by section 102, is amended—
(1)
in the heading, by striking Video
and inserting Audio
; and
(2)
by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) and inserting the following:
(2) Audio description regulations for programming published or exhibited on television
(A) In general
Not later than 12 months after the date of submission of the recommendations to the Commission under section 106(d)(1) of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall revise its regulations, taking into account those recommendations, to require all video programming first published or exhibited on television on or after the effective date of the revised regulations to be fully accessible through the provisions, receipt, and performance of audio description.
(B) Requirements
The regulations revised under subparagraph (A)—
(i)
shall ensure that all English-language and Spanish-language video programming first published or exhibited on television on or after the effective date of the revised regulations, is fully accessible through the provision, receipt, and performance of audio description in the original language of the audio track of the programming in all designated market areas, except as provided in paragraph (5);
(ii)
shall include an appropriate schedule of deadlines, the earliest of which shall be not less than 2 years after the effective date of the revised regulations and the latest of which shall be not more than 6 years after that effective date, for the provision, receipt, and performance of audio described programming first published or exhibited on television on or after that effective date;
(iii)
shall provide that audio described programming first published or exhibited on television on or after the effective date of the revised regulations shall be labeled and searchable or otherwise easily discoverable through navigation devices, apparatuses, applications, and other methods by which the programming is published or exhibited;
(iv)
shall provide that to the extent there is an audio channel or audio track dedicated solely to making audio description available, video programming first published or exhibited on television on or after the effective date of the revised regulations with audio description shall be made available to the public on such channel or track, so long as it is achievable (as defined in section 716(g)); and
(v)
shall require any entity involved in the publishing or exhibiting of audio described programming on television that is first published or exhibited on or after the effective date of the revised regulations to provide contact information, consistent with section 79.1(i) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, for consumers to report problems related to audio description.
(3) Audio description regulations for online video programming and consumer generated media
(A) Audio description regulations for new online video programming
Not later than 18 months after the date of submission of the recommendations to the Commission under section 106(d)(1) of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall revise its regulations, taking into account those recommendations, to require all online video programming that is first made available on or after the effective date of the revised regulations to be fully accessible through the provision, receipt, and performance of audio description.
(B) Schedule
The regulations revised under subparagraph (A) shall include an appropriate schedule of deadlines, the earliest of which shall be not less than 2 years after the effective date of the revised regulations and the latest of which shall be not more than 6 years after that effective date, for the provision, receipt, and performance of audio description on online video programming that is first made available on or after that effective date.
(C) Requirements for regulations
The regulations revised under subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)
ensure that all English-language and Spanish-language online video programming that is first made available on or after the effective date of the revised regulations is fully accessible through the provision, receipt, and performance of audio description in the original language of the audio track of the programming;
(ii)
define the categories of entities engaged in making available online video programming and apportion the responsibilities for the provision, quality, pass-through, and rendering of audio description among such entities to ensure that audio description data—
(I)
remains with the video programming to which the data is added; and
(II)
is distributed in common formats so that audio description can be exhibited intact by all other entities that subsequently make the programming available to viewers;
(iii)
require, to the extent that an entity makes available to the public guides or listings of its online video programming, that the entity include information about the availability of audio description in those guides or listings to enable that programming to be searchable or easily discoverable through navigation devices, apparatuses, applications, and other methods on which the programming is made available;
(iv)
shall provide that to the extent there is an audio channel or audio track dedicated solely to making audio description available, online video programming shall be provided on such channel or track, unless that is not achievable (as defined in section 716(g)); and
(v)
require entities engaged in making available audio described online video programming to provide contact information, consistent with section 79.4(c)(2)(iii) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, for end users to report problems related to audio description.
(D) Audio description regulations for older online video programming and on consumer generated media
(i) In general
Not later than 18 months after the date of submission of the recommendations to the Commission under section 106(d)(1) of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall prescribe regulations, taking into account those recommendations, to maximize, through the provision, receipt, and performance of audio description, the accessibility of—
(I)
online video programming that is first made available before the effective date of the revised regulations under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and
(II)
consumer generated media.
(ii) Requirement for consumer generated media
In prescribing regulations for consumer generated media under clause (i)(II), the Commission shall require that an entity engaged in making available consumer generated media, whether or not the entity is also engaged in making available video that is not consumer generated media, provides—
(I)
authoring tools that permit users who post videos on the entity’s platform to add closed captions;
(II)
timely and effective notice, at or before the time of upload, to users who post videos on the entity’s platform that such authoring tools are available for videos; and
(III)
guidance on how to use such authoring tools.
(4) Audio description quality
(A) In general
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall prescribe regulations to ensure the technical quality of audio description on video programming, including online video programming, and consumer generated media as necessary to afford access to video programming and consumer generated media that is functionally equivalent to the access provided by the visual components of the programming or media.
(B) Requirements
The regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A) shall require that audio description—
(i)
effectively convey key visual elements of the program or media;
(ii)
when utilizing text-to-speech synthetic voices, effectively convey the visual content and vocal nuance of the program or media in a manner that is functionally equivalent to the ability of human voicing to convey the visual content and vocal nuance;
(iii)
be edited, encoded, and delivered to the public in a manner that ensures consistency with the editing, encoding, and delivery of the non-description audio track of the programming or media; and
(iv)
to the extent practicable, be provided for open subtitles in the same language as the audio or in other languages if the subtitles convey information relevant to the program or media that is not conveyed in the audio of the program or media.
(C) Compliance and enforcement
For the purposes of achieving compliance with and enforcement of the requirements of this paragraph and the regulations prescribed thereunder, the Commission shall prescribe regulations that include the compliance and enforcement procedures under section 79.1(g)(9) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(5) Audio description exemptions
Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3)—
(A)
the Commission may exempt by regulation from the requirements under paragraphs (2) and (3) programs or media, classes of programs or media, or services for which the Commission has determined that the provision of audio description would be economically burdensome to an entity responsible for publishing, exhibiting, or making available such programming or media; and
(B)
an entity responsible for publishing, exhibiting, or making available video programming or consumer generated media may petition the Commission for an exemption from the requirements under paragraphs (2) and (3), and the Commission may grant the exemption upon a showing that the requirement to include audio description would be economically burdensome.
(b) Technical and conforming amendments
The Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended—
(1)
in title III (47 U.S.C. 301 et seq.)—
(A)
in section 303(u) (47 U.S.C. 303(u))—
(i)
in paragraph (1)(B)—
(I)
by striking video description
and inserting audio description
; and
(II)
by striking section 713(f)
and inserting section 713(g)
; and
(ii)
by moving the left margin of that subsection and each paragraph, subparagraph, and clause therein 2 ems to the left; and
(B)
in section 330(b) (47 U.S.C. 330(b)), by striking video description
each place the term appears and inserting audio description
; and
(2)
in section 713 (47 U.S.C. 613), in subsection (a)(1), as redesignated by section 101—
(A)
in the paragraph heading, by striking Video description
and inserting Audio description
; and
(B)
by striking video description
and inserting audio description
.
Sec. 104. Technical and conforming amendments relating to economic burden
Subsection (f) of section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613), as redesignated by section 102, is amended to read as follows:
(f) Economically burdensome
For purposes of this section, the term economically burdensome means resulting in significant difficulty or expense. In determining whether the closed captions or audio description necessary to comply with the requirements of this section would be economically burdensome, the factors to be considered include—
(1)
the nature and cost of the closed captions or audio description for the programming;
(2)
the impact on the operation of the provider or program owner;
(3)
the financial resources of the provider or program owner; and
(4)
the type of operations of the provider or program owner.
Sec. 105. Sign language in video programming
Section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613) is amended by inserting before subsection (j) the following:
(i) Sign language interpretation of video programming
(1) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of submission of the recommendations to the Commission under section 106(d)(2) of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall prescribe regulations, taking into account those recommendations, to require, in the case of video programming first published or exhibited on television or first delivered using internet protocol or any successor protocol on or after the effective date of the regulations that includes the provision of sign language, that the entity providing the programming ensure that the sign language presentation is visible on the viewer’s screen throughout the programming pursuant to standards established by the Commission.
(2) Compliance and enforcement
For the purposes of achieving compliance with and enforcement of the requirements of this subsection and the regulations prescribed thereunder, the Commission shall prescribe regulations that include the compliance and enforcement procedures under section 79.1(g)(9) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
Sec. 106. Closed Captioning, Audio Description, and Sign Language Advisory Committee
(a) Definitions
(1) In general
In this section:
(A) Advisory Committee
The term Advisory Committee means the Closed Captioning, Audio Description, and Sign Language Advisory Committee established under subsection (b).
(B) Chair
The term Chair means the Chairman of the Commission.
(C) Commission
The term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission.
(D) Consumer generated media
The term consumer generated media has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153).
(2) Terms defined in section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934
In this section, the terms audio description, live programming, near-live programming, online video programming, prerecorded programming, and video programming have the meanings given those terms in section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613), as amended by this title.
(b) Establishment
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Chair shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Closed Captioning, Audio Description, and Sign Language Advisory Committee
.
(c) Membership
The Chair shall appoint individuals who have the technical knowledge and engineering expertise to serve on the Advisory Committee in the fulfillment of its duties, including the following:
(1)
Individual representatives, or representatives of national organizations, including broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors (as defined in section 602 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522)), engaged in making available video programming, including online video programming.
(2)
Individual representatives, or representatives of national organizations, of vendors, developers, and manufacturers of systems, facilities, information technology equipment, and consumer electronics for the provision of video programming, including online video programming.
(3)
Individuals with expertise generating consumer generated media.
(4)
Representatives of national organizations representing individuals with disabilities and older Americans.
(5)
Representatives of service agencies engaged in the provision of captioning and audio description for video programming, including online video programming.
(6)
Academic experts or representatives of research institutes with expertise on closed captioning and audio description.
(7)
Individuals with expertise that can contribute to standards for the display of sign language interpretation on video programming.
(8)
Other individuals with technical and engineering expertise, as the Chair determines appropriate.
(d) Development of recommendations
(1) Closed captioning and audio description recommendations
Not later than 180 days after the date of establishment of the Advisory Committee under subsection (b), the Advisory Committee shall develop and submit to the Commission recommendations that include the following:
(A)
A recommended schedule of deadlines for the provision of closed captioning and audio description on online video programming.
(B)
Identification of, and recommendations for, the protocols and technical capabilities, standards, and procedures needed to enable responsible entities to reliably provide, receive, and display closed captions and audio description of online video programming.
(C)
A recommendation for any regulations that may be necessary to ensure compatibility between online video programming and apparatuses and navigation devices capable of receiving and displaying such programming in order to facilitate access to closed captions and audio description.
(D)
Identification of the categories of entities involved in the delivery of online video programming, along with a recommendation on how to apportion the responsibilities for the provision, quality, pass-through, and display of closed captions and the provision, quality, pass-through, and performance of audio description among those entities to ensure full access by viewers.
(E)
A recommendation for defining metrics and thresholds to be used for measuring—
(i)
the accuracy, synchronicity, completeness, and placement of closed captions for live programming as necessary to afford access to video programming that is functionally equivalent to the access provided by the audio track, with minimum thresholds that are neutral to different modalities for creating closed captions; and
(ii)
the quality of audio description as necessary to afford access to video programming that is functionally equivalent to the access provided visually with minimum thresholds that are neutral to different modalities for creating audio description.
(F)
A recommendation for the achievability of making audio description available on a dedicated audio channel.
(G)
A recommendation for standards, protocols, and procedures to ensure that audio described video programming is labeled and searchable or otherwise easily discoverable through navigation devices, apparatuses, applications, and other methods on which such programming is published, exhibited, or made available.
(H)
A recommendation for best practices for ensuring that closed captions and audio description on programming that was live programming or near-live programming at the time that it was initially made available to viewers are subsequently made available at the level of quality required for prerecorded programming.
(I)
Identification of attributes of easy-to-use authoring tools that permit users who post videos on a platform to add closed captions and audio description to online video programming.
(J)
Recommendations for applying the closed captioning and audio description obligations under section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613), as amended by this title, to consumer generated media, including—
(i)
thresholds and measures used to determine the extent to which the obligations, including obligations for providing closed captioning and audio description on video clips, should apply to consumer generated media, for which the Advisory Committee may consider—
(I)
the volume of postings;
(II)
the size of viewership;
(III)
whether the obligation is economically burdensome (as defined in section 713(f) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613(f)), as amended by this title); and
(IV)
other measures as necessary to ensure expanded access for individuals with disabilities;
(ii)
deadlines for bringing consumer generated media into compliance with the obligations; and
(iii)
reasonable timeframes for providers of consumer generated media to respond to consumer complaints and concerns relating to closed captioning and audio description on consumer generated media.
(K)
Recommendations for applying the closed captioning and audio description obligations under section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613), as amended by this title, to online video programming that was first made available before the effective date of the applicable regulations revised under that section, pursuant to this title, including—
(i)
deadlines for bringing such programming into compliance with the closed captioning and audio description obligations, for which the Advisory Committee may consider—
(I)
the volume of programming;
(II)
the size of viewership;
(III)
whether the obligation is economically burdensome (as defined in section 713(f) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613(f)), as amended by this title); and
(IV)
other measures as necessary to ensure expanded access for individuals with disabilities;
(ii)
the intervals at which determinations under clause (i) should be reviewed and updated; and
(iii)
reasonable timeframes for providers of such programming to respond to consumer complaints and concerns relating to closed captioning and audio description on such programing.
(2) Sign language video programming report
Not later than 6 months after the date of establishment of the Advisory Committee, the Advisory Committee shall develop and submit to the Commission recommendations for standards to ensure that where sign language is provided on video programming, it is visible on the viewer’s screen throughout the programming.
(e) Meetings
(1) Initial meeting
The initial meeting of the Advisory Committee shall take place not later than 45 days after the date on which the Chair has appointed all the members of the Advisory Committee under subsection (c).
(2) Other meetings
After the initial meeting, the Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the Chair.
(3) Notice; open meetings
Any meeting held by the Advisory Committee shall be noticed not later than 14 days before the meeting and shall be open to the public.
(f) Procedural rules
(1) Quorum
The presence of one-third of the members of the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting the business of the Advisory Committee.
(2) Subcommittees
To assist the Advisory Committee in carrying out its functions, the Chair may establish appropriate subcommittees composed of members of the Advisory Committee and other subject matter experts.
(3) Additional procedural rules
The Advisory Committee may adopt other procedural rules as needed.
(g) Inapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act
Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.
Sec. 107. Inquiries and reports to Congress
Section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(k) Inquiries and reports to Congress
(1) Inquiries and reports on further video programming accessibility requirements
(A) Closed captioning
Not later than 4 years after the effective date of the regulations prescribed under subsection (c)(2)(D) of this section to implement, as appropriate, the recommendations described in subparagraphs (J) and (K) of section 106(d)(1) of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall commence inquiries on, and not later than 1 year thereafter, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on, each of the matters described in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(B) Audio description
Not later than 4 years after the effective date of the regulations prescribed under subsection (g)(3)(D) of this section to implement, as appropriate, the recommendations described in subparagraphs (J) and (K) of section 106(d)(1) of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, the Commission shall commence inquiries on, and not later than 1 year thereafter, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on, each of the matters described in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(2) Content of inquiries and reports
The matters described in this paragraph are the following:
(A)
The availability, use, and benefits of providing closed captioning or audio description (as applicable) on consumer generated media.
(B)
The availability, use, and benefits of providing closed captioning or audio description (as applicable) on online video programming that was first made available before the effective date of the revised regulations under subsection (c)(2)(A) or (g)(3)(A), respectively.
(C)
The technical and operational issues and costs of providing closed captioning or audio description (as applicable) on—
(i)
consumer generated media; and
(ii)
video programming described in subparagraph (B).
(D)
The extent to which the measures, thresholds, scope, intervals, and associated deadlines used by the Commission to determine the closed captioning or audio description (as applicable) obligations for consumer generated media and video programming described in subparagraph (B) have been effective in providing video programming access to individuals with disabilities.
(3) Continuing Commission authority
The Commission may, as necessary, update its regulations and associated deadlines for the provision of closed captioning or audio description on consumer generated media and video programming described in paragraph (2)(B) if the Commission determines, based on the findings in the applicable report under paragraph (1), that updated regulations are necessary to—
(A)
effectively meet the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities; and
(B)
reflect technological and methodological advances.
Title II Video playback apparatuses
Sec. 201. Video playback apparatuses
(a) In general
Section 303 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 303) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (u)—
(A)
by adjusting the margins 2 ems to the left; and
(B)
in paragraph (1)(C), by striking visually impaired
and inserting low vision
;
(2)
in subsection (z)—
(A)
by adjusting the margins 2 ems to the left; and
(B)
by striking video description
each place it appears and inserting audio description
; and
(3)
in subsection (aa)—
(A)
by adjusting the margins 2 ems to the left;
(B)
in paragraph (1), by inserting or any successor protocol
after protocol
;
(C)
in paragraph (3)—
(i)
by striking video description
and inserting audio description
; and
(ii)
by striking and
at the end;
(D)
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (8);
(E)
by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
(4)
that the mechanism used for activating the closed captioning, audio description, and other accessibility features described in paragraph (3) be
readily accessibleas defined by the factors enumerated in section 79.103(e)(1) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation;(5)
that, if achievable and technically feasible, apparatus equipped with the functions described in paragraph (1) be equipped with an audio channel or audio track dedicated solely to making audio description available;
(6)
that apparatus equipped with the functions described in paragraph (1) provide a user with a prompt to modify closed captioning and audio description activation and performance settings upon initial power-on after user purchase of the apparatus or upon a reset to factory settings of the apparatus;
(7)
that apparatus equipped with the functions described in paragraph (1), if technically feasible, provide the necessary hardware and software to achieve compatibility with, and to the extent achievable (as defined in section 716(g)), the integration of, assistive technologies and services, peripheral devices, or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access to the apparatus, including refreshable braille displays, switch activation such as sip and puff devices, hearing aids, hands-free technologies, and, if such apparatus is equipped with voice input that is used to access its functions, voice recognition functionality so that such menus or indicators are accessible to and usable by individuals with speech disabilities in real-time; and; and
(F)
in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking does not include
and inserting with includes
.
(b) Implementing regulations
(1) Definition
In this subsection, the term navigation device has the meaning given the term in section 76.1200 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(2) Requirement
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall prescribe such regulations that apportion the responsibilities for compliance with subsections (u), (z), and (aa) of section 303 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 303), as amended by subsection (a), among the categories of entities engaged in manufacturing, importing into the United States, maintaining, operating, or providing applications, plugins, or other software for apparatus and navigation devices to ensure full access by viewers via all entities responsible for digital apparatus and navigation devices.
Title III Communications services
Sec. 301. Video conferencing
The Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended—
(1)
in section 3 (47 U.S.C. 153)—
(A)
by redesignating paragraph (59) as paragraph (60); and
(B)
by inserting after paragraph (58) the following:
(59) Visual interpretation services
The term visual interpretation services means functionality that is achieved using human assistance or automation to generate real-time descriptions of visual information, including images and text, for the purpose of conveying those descriptions to individuals who are blind or low vision.; and
(2)
in section 716(e) (47 U.S.C. 617(e)), by adding at the end the following:
(3) Revision of regulations; video conferencing services
(A) Regulations
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Commission shall prescribe regulations to require, unless not achievable, that all providers of interoperable video conferencing services and all manufacturers of equipment capable of providing or enabling interoperable video conferencing services make available—
(i)
voice recognition functionality that is capable of generating understandable speech when used by individuals with speech disabilities;
(ii)
a simplified user interface that is accessible to individuals with cognitive disabilities, including a simplified, secure modality for initiating and authenticating interoperable video conferencing services;
(iii)
instructional materials for activating interoperable video conferencing services with plain and simple language and iconography that is accessible to individuals with cognitive disabilities;
(iv)
visual interpretation services;
(v)
screen-reader capability for all user interface elements and visual information, including presentations, videos, and interactive documents shared during interoperable video conferencing calls;
(vi)
refreshable braille displays and other devices used for the tactile conveyance of interface elements and visual information, including presentations, videos, and interactive documents shared during interoperable video conferencing calls; and
(vii)
hands-free technologies.
(B) Industry flexibility
An entity may satisfy the requirements under the regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A) with respect to the video conferencing services, equipment, or systems the entity provides or manufactures, as applicable, by ensuring that the services, equipment, or systems are accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities—
(i)
without the use of third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment; or
(ii)
with the use of third party applications, peripheral devices, software, hardware, or customer premises equipment, so long as consumers are not assessed charges associated with achieving accessibility through such third party mechanisms.
(C) Compatibility for video conferencing services
If compliance with a regulation prescribed under subparagraph (A) is not achievable through the means set forth in subparagraph (B), a manufacturer or provider that enables interoperable video conferencing services shall, unless not achievable, ensure that its interoperable video conferencing service or equipment is compatible with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to provide the accessibility features described in subparagraph (A).
Sec. 302. Relay services
Section 225 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 225) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively;
(B)
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2) Communication facilitator
The term communication facilitator means a skilled user of sign language who is able to facilitate the ability of a DeafBlind person to engage in transmission and other services described in this section by conveying the information provided during the use of those services to the DeafBlind person through close vision or tactile sign language.
(3) Deaf interpreter
The term Deaf interpreter means an individual who—
(A)
is deaf or hard of hearing;
(B)
possesses native or near-native fluency in sign language; and
(C)
has specialized training or experience to assist in providing functionally equivalent sign language interpretation for an individual using sign language in a situation that—
(i)
requires linguistic or cultural mediation;
(ii)
may be highly complex in nature; or
(iii)
may involve individuals who face linguistic challenges, such as through atypical language use, language deprivation, or idiosyncratic signing styles.
(4) Direct video calling service
The term direct video calling service means telephone customer support using one-to-one video communication that—
(A)
is facilitated by a contact center representative; and
(B)
enables a real-time conversation to occur directly between not fewer than 2 parties using sign language—
(i)
not less than 1 of the parties to which is a governmental agency, business, non-profit organization, emergency authority, or other enterprise; and
(ii)
not less than 1 of the parties to which—
(I)
(aa)
is deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind; or
(bb)
has a speech disability or auditory processing disorder; and
(II)
relies on sign language for communication.; and
(C)
by striking paragraph (6), as so redesignated, and inserting the following:
(6) Telecommunications relay services
The term telecommunications relay services means—
(A)
transmission services that provide the ability for an individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, or who has a speech disability or an auditory processing disorder, to engage in communication by wire or radio with 1 or more individuals, in a manner that is functionally equivalent to, or, if technically feasible, provides access that is equal to, the ability of a hearing individual who does not have a speech disability to communicate using voice communication services or advanced communications services by wire or radio; and
(B)
other services facilitating functionally equivalent communication by wire or radio for an individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, or who has a speech disability or an auditory processing disorder, including the provision of communication facilitators for an individual who is DeafBlind and the provision of direct video calling services for communication in real-time by sign language users with customer service centers and other call centers operated by local, State, or Federal Government agencies, crisis centers, and emergency authorities.; and
(2)
in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
(4) Sign language access to emergency services; communication facilitators; direct video calling services
(A) Definition
In this paragraph, the term video relay service has the meaning given the term in section 64.601(a)(57) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(B) Regulations
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Commission shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to—
(i)
define as eligible for relay service support from the fund described in section 64.604(c)(5)(iii) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on that date of enactment—
(I)
direct video calling services between sign language users and call center representatives in local, State, or Federal government agencies, crisis centers, and emergency authorities;
(II)
services provided by communication facilitators on telecommunications relay services calls with individuals who are DeafBlind; and
(III)
the provision of a Deaf interpreter to accompany a hearing communications assistant, as defined in section 64.601(a)(13) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, when necessary to assist in providing functionally equivalent sign language interpretation on calls using video relay service;
(ii)
achieve full, equal, and direct access to public safety answering points, as that term is defined in section 222(h), and other local emergency authorities, including emergency authorities responding to wireless calls placed by dialing 9–1–1, by individuals who—
(I)
are deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, or who have a speech disability or a cognitive disability; and
(II)
use sign language; and
(iii)
unless not achievable (as defined in section 716(g)), ensure that a person can have a single telephone number for the purpose of receiving calls and messages from other entities calling by means of video relay services or voice or electronic text messaging services.
(C) Contents
The regulations described in subparagraph (A)(ii) shall, unless not achievable (as defined in section 716(g)), at a minimum, require that users communicating by means of a video relay service or a direct video calling service shall be capable of using native dialing or 1-step access on a mobile phone so that such communication—
(i)
includes the location information of the user, to be transmitted and delivered immediately and directly to the applicable emergency authority; and
(ii)
is received by the applicable emergency authority with the same speed and efficiency as a voice call made by dialing 9–1–1.
(5) Reassessment of available services and minimum standards
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and once every 4 years thereafter, the Commission shall, as necessary to respond to evolving communication technologies, reassess and update the regulations prescribed under this subsection to ensure that those regulations effectively satisfy the communication needs of individuals with disabilities who are covered by this Act, including by—
(A)
assessing the need for new modes of telecommunications relay services; and
(B)
increasing and improving the mandatory minimum standards to ensure the quality and privacy of telecommunications relay services.
Sec. 303. National DeafBlind equipment distribution program
(a) In general
Section 719 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 620) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
by striking low-income
; and
(B)
by striking deaf-blind
and inserting DeafBlind
;
(2)
by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
(b) Definition
In this section, the term individual who is DeafBlind—
(1)
has the meaning given the term individual who is deaf-blind in section 206 of the Helen Keller National Center Act (29 U.S.C. 1905); and
(2)
includes an individual who—
(A)
for the purposes of satisfying subparagraph (A)(i) of such section 206(2), has been diagnosed with a cortical or cerebral visual impairment;
(B)
for the purposes of satisfying subparagraph (A)(ii) of such section 206(2), has been diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder; or
(C)
for the purposes of satisfying subparagraphs (A)(i) and (A)(ii) of such section 206(2), has been diagnosed with both a cortical or cerebral visual impairment and an auditory processing disorder.; and
(3)
in subsection (c), by striking $10,000,000
and inserting $20,000,000, which the Commission shall adjust annually for inflation using an inflation factor determined by the Commission
.
(b) Update to regulations
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall update section 64.610 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, to ensure consistency with the amendments made by subsection (a).
Title IV Customer service
Sec. 401. Usability of advanced communication and video programming services
Section 716 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 617) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (i) the following:
(j) Usability
(1) Definition
In this subsection, the term direct video calling services has the meaning given the term in section 225(a).
(2) Manufacturers and service providers
If a manufacturer or service provider to which subsections (a) and (b) apply offers live or machine-generated customer assistance to the general public, each such entity shall, unless not achievable, make such assistance usable to individuals with disabilities who rely on sign language by making available the ability to communicate in real time in sign language with customer service agents through direct video calling services.
(3) Video programming
If a video programming provider, multi-video programming distributor, or video apparatus manufacturer to which this Act applies offers live or machine-generated customer assistance to the general public, each such entity shall, unless not achievable, make that assistance usable to individuals with disabilities who rely on sign language by making available the ability to communicate in real time in sign language with customer service agents through direct video calling services.
(4) Regulations
The Commission shall—
(A)
not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to implement paragraph (2), which shall contain standards to ensure that direct video calling services for individuals with disabilities who rely on sign language as their primary form of communication receive customer and technical support that is not less effective in terms of availability, scope, and quality than customer and technical support provided to the general public; and
(B)
not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to implement paragraph (3), which shall contain standards to ensure that direct video calling services for individuals with disabilities who rely on sign language as their primary form of communication receive customer and technical support that is not less effective in terms of availability, scope, and quality than customer service provided to the general public.
Title V Emerging technology
Sec. 501. Emerging technology
Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
723. Emerging technology accessibility
(a) Augmentative and alternative communication defined
In this section, the term augmentative and alternative communication means any tool, method, technology, strategy, service, training, coaching, or other support used to supplement or replace speech.
(b) Reports to Congress
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this section, and every 5 years thereafter, the Commission shall, in consultation with the United States Access Board, submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report assessing—
(1)
the extent to which emerging communication and video programming technologies, such as those that include the use of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, dual reality, spatial computing, and other advanced machine learning, wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, robotics, the Internet of Things, and other forms of advanced computing power, result in accessibility opportunities and barriers for individuals with disabilities; and
(2)
solutions needed to ensure that emerging communications and video programming technologies and services such as those described in paragraph (1)—
(A)
are accessible to individuals with disabilities; and
(B)
provide the necessary hardware and software to achieve compatibility with peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access.
(c) Assessment of effect on individuals with particular barriers
In preparing each report required under subsection (b), the Commission shall assess the effect of emerging technologies on individuals with disabilities who have particular barriers to participation and communication with those technologies, including individuals with disabilities who—
(1)
have limited language or communication abilities, including individuals with speech disabilities and those that use augmentative and alternative communication, and individuals with cognitive disabilities;
(2)
have significant, targeted, or multiple disabilities, including individuals who are blind or low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, DeafBlind, have an auditory processing disorder, a cortical or cerebral visual impairment, or have both communication and mobility disabilities; or
(3)
in addition to their disability, lack access to advanced communication services and technology due to age, geographical location, socioeconomic status or Tribal affiliation.
(d) Regulations
Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Commission submits each report required under subsection (b), the Commission shall prescribe new or update existing regulations for ensuring the accessibility of emerging communications and video programming technologies and services by individuals with disabilities where doing so is necessary to further the goals of the statutory provisions implemented by the regulations of the Commission under parts 6, 7, 14, and 79 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation intended to fulfill these goals.
Title VI Enforcement and reporting
Sec. 601. Accessibility enforcement
(a) In general
Section 503(b)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 503(b)(5)) is amended by inserting after uses that tower
the following: , or in the case of violations of this Act related to requirements of accessibility for individuals with disabilities, including violations of section 225, section 255, section 276(b)(1)(A), subsections (u) through (aa) of section 303, section 330(b), section 710, section 711, section 713, or sections 715 through 719
.
(b) Other laws
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall not be construed to modify, impair, supersede, or preclude enforcement of violations of other State or Federal disability rights and civil rights laws.
Sec. 602. Accessibility complaint reporting
Section 717 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 618) is amended by striking subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) and inserting the following:
(b) Accessibility complaint reporting requirement
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, and every 3 years thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that includes the following:
(1)
The number and nature of complaints received pursuant to subsection (u), (z), or (aa) of section 303, section 330(b), section 713, and section 716(a) during the period covered by the report.
(2)
A description of the actions taken to resolve the complaints described in paragraph (1), including forfeiture penalties assessed.
(3)
The length of time that was taken by the Commission to resolve each such complaint.
(4)
The number, status, nature, and outcome of each action for mandamus filed pursuant to section 717(a)(6) and the number, status, nature, and outcome of each appeal filed pursuant to section 402(b)(10).