Resolution 2024 12 - Audio Description for Streaming Services

Resolution 2024 12 - Audio Description for Streaming Services

Submitted by Clark Rachfal on behalf of the ACB Audio Description Project

Whereas, the American Council of the Blind is the pre-eminent advocacy organization for the creation, distribution, and enjoyment of high-quality audio-described video content; and

Whereas, audio description is audio-narrated descriptions of video programming’s key visual elements inserted into natural pauses in the program; and

Whereas, this organization championed the passage of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) that codified into law the requirements for the creation and distribution of audio-described video programming by broadcast television providers and multi-channel video program distributors (MVPDs), such as cable and satellite video providers; and

Whereas, this organization’s advocacy and the implementing regulations of the CVAA have resulted in an increase in audio-described video programming on broadcast and cable television; and

Whereas, consumers’ video viewing habits have evolved since 2010, and a continuously growing number of consumers are subscribing to streaming video providers; in 2024, YouTube TV became the fourth largest linear subscription video service in the United States; and

Whereas, this organization continues to receive complaints from consumers of recalcitrant streaming video providers that they are not meeting the accessibility requirements of the CVAA and are not passing through audio-described content made available on broadcast television or by other MVPDs; and

Whereas, on Dec. 19, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) seeking comment on a proposal to update its rules to better reflect the fact that video services are being provided increasingly over the Internet; however, this rule making was not finalized;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled virtually, that this organization advocate directly with streaming video providers, broadcast and non-broadcast networks, to pass through existing audio-described content as is already done with broadcast and cable television so that people who are blind or have low vision are not left behind through this technological transition; and

Be it further resolved that this organization work with the FCC to use its existing authority to refresh the record and ensure that the definition of multi-channel video programming distributor is updated and that all video programmers, regardless of the underlying technology used, are subject to the accessibility requirements of the CVAA, including the pass-through of audio-described content; and,

Be it further resolved that this organization work toward the swift passage of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act to expand the amount of audio-described content available for consumers, regardless of how they choose to consume it.

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