National Federation of the Blind of
RESOLUTION 2006 - 02
Concerning the Mandating Video
Description for Television Broadcasting
WHEREAS,
over 98%
of households in the
WHEREAS,
television
plays a critical role in our society as a vital source of news, information,
local and community affairs, education, and entertainment; and
WHEREAS,
tens of
millions of Americans obtain entertainment and needed information by viewing
television broadcasts; and
WHEREAS,
television
broadcasting has been recognized by weather services and governmental agencies
as a primary means of mass communication for emergency purposes; and
WHEREAS,
the
nation has a compelling public interest in furthering the safety, security and
well-being of persons who are blind and visually impaired by ensuring, to the
fullest extent made possible by technology, equal access to the television
medium; and
WHEREAS,
the blind
or otherwise print impaired do not have equal access to the information and
entertainment offered to others via television; and
WHEREAS,
digital
technology facilitates the accommodation and provision of video description,
enabling people who are blind or reading impaired to take full advantage of
television through means of verbal narration of scrolled emergency messages,
educational programs and entertainment; and
WHEREAS,
the
television industry has generally resisted attempts to have it implement video
description in entertainment, educational and emergency broadcasts, and
WHEREAS,
television
broadcasters have not chosen to take advantage of the technology for narration
that would make their broadcasts accessible to the blind; and
WHEREAS,
Congress
previously passed legislation to mandate Closed Captioning for people who are
hard of hearing or deaf, and
WHEREAS,
television
broadcasters have since gained financing for Closed Captioning from major
businesses in exchange for televised recognition that the closed captioning was
provided by said businesses; and
WHEREAS,
U.S.
Senator John McCain (Rep-AZ) and U.S. Representative Edward Markey (Dem-MA)
have sponsored S. 900 and H.R. 951 that give the Federal Communications
Commission authority to promulgate rules which mandate that video description
technology be used: NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED
that
the National Federation of the Blind of Florida assembled in Convention this 29
day in May, 2006 in Orlando, Florida, urges that these bills be amended to make
narration of scrolled emergency warnings a priority of the proposed
legislation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that
verbal narration of scrolled emergency warnings are to be mandated; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that
the National Federation of the Blind of Florida hereby declares that, with such
amendment, this organization strongly supports S 900 and H.R. 951; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the
National Federation of the Blind of Florida urges