NCRA’s Matthew Barusch, Manager of State Government Relations, represented the Association at the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting on March 21. NCRA is a representative member of the Video Programming and Technology Transitions subcommittees for a two-year term. This is the second time the Association has served on this committee. Nearly two dozen other parties representing a number of companies, nonprofit organizations, and individual consumers are serving on these subcommittees.
According to Barusch, the Video Programming Subcommittee will issue recommendations on seamless video captioning and video description.
“NCRA will work with the Video Programing Subcommittee to identify issues associated with the transmittal and receipt of captioning and video description files by video programming providers and distributors during the transition from analog to IP communication transmission,” he explained.
The Technology Transitions Subcommittee will examine issues related to real-time text.
“NCRA is thrilled to have the opportunity to provide input on the FCC’s rulemaking regarding this matter. The transition to IP communication transmission presents challenges to members of the captioning community, and I look forward to working with the DAC on addressing these issues,” he added.
The FCC established the DAC in December 2014 to provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on a wide array of disability issues within its jurisdiction. According to the FCC, the DAC provides a means for stakeholders with interests in accessibility issues to exchange ideas, facilitate the participation of consumers with disabilities in proceedings before the FCC, and assist the FCC in educating the greater disability community and American with Disabilities Act-covered entities on disability-related matters. The Committee is expected to keep the FCC apprised of current and evolving communications issues for people with disabilities. Other subcommittees include Communications, Emergency Communications, and Relay/Equipment Distribution.
