June 22, 2020, is the comment deadline for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposal on expanding audio description requirements. As we mentioned in a previous article, each year for four years the FCC proposes to expand its video description regulations by phasing them in for an additional 10 designated market areas (DMAs), beginning on January 1, 2021.
In 2023, it also proposes that, after assessing the reasonableness of associated costs, the FCC will consider whether to further expand video description requirements to additional markets 101 and beyond.
Additionally, the FCC wants to modernize the terminology in part 79 of its regulations to use the term “audio description” rather than “video description.”
Comments to this proposal must be submitted no later than June 22, 2020. Reply Comments must be submitted no later than July 6, 2020. Commenters should follow the filing instructions provided in paragraph 22 of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The complete NPRM can be accessed at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-55A1.pdf
Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Comment can also be filed by mail.
Source:
- "Media Bureau Announces Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines for Video Description NPRM (DA 20-542) Public Notice." Federal Communications Commission, May 21, 2020, https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-542A1.pdf
