Bill Overview
Title: Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2022
Description: This bill expands, and establishes new, requirements to increase the accessibility of communications technologies for individuals who are blind or deaf or have other disabilities, including by requiring closed captioning for online video programming and audio descriptions for both online and televised video programming.
Sponsors: Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who are blind, deaf, or have other disabilities that affect their ability to access communications
Estimated Size: 12000000
- The bill focuses on increasing accessibility for communications technologies.
- The primary target populations are individuals who are blind, deaf, or have other disabilities.
- It mandates closed captioning and audio descriptions which mainly benefit these groups.
- Global statistics suggest that approximately 15% of the world's population, or 1 billion people, live with some form of disability.
- Not all of these will be affected as the conditions specifically addressed are blindness and deafness.
Reasoning
- The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act aims to serve people with disabilities related to seeing, hearing, and other communication challenges.
- Approximately 12 million Americans might directly benefit from this policy based on the estimated population with significant seeing or hearing disabilities.
- The policy budget constraints indicate that the approach needs careful costing and phased implementation to provide the required technologies and services.
- Those with more severe disabilities in communication could benefit more substantially than those with less severe conditions, hence varying levels of impact.
- The simulated interviews include individuals with disabilities, and those unaffected, providing a broad view of its potential reach and impact.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am hopeful about the policy making online content more accessible.
- Screen reader compatibility is crucial, and many sites still lag behind.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Teacher (Rochester, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Captions and audio descriptions are essential for inclusion in society.
- I hope this policy pushes more creators to provide quality captions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Dallas, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While it's great for those with severe impairments, I don't see a massive change for me.
- It's reassuring to know there are efforts for accessibility though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graphic Designer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accessible content makes a huge difference in my life.
- I hope this policy means more consistent and accurate subtitles across the board.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a worthwhile investment as it promotes inclusivity.
- Personally, it doesn't affect me but my business could reach more customers with enhanced accessibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Customer Service Representative (Chicago, IL)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased accessibility will improve my quality of life tremendously.
- I'm optimistic about the changes this policy might bring but wary of execution delays.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
University Professor (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is critical for educational sectors where students depend on clear communication.
- It represents progress even if it won't change much for me immediately.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Marketing Specialist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Audio descriptions are a must for visually impaired people like me.
- The policy holds promise, but it needs enforcement mechanisms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Freelance Writer (Denver, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although it won't affect me, I believe in supporting policies that enhance inclusivity.
- Inclusion creates a more equitable society.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
College Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It gives me hope that future media will be more accessible.
- I'm especially keen on seeing improvement in real-time captioning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $700000000)
Year 2: $400000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $600000000)
Year 3: $350000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $550000000)
Year 5: $300000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $500000000)
Year 10: $250000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $400000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $100000000)
Key Considerations
- The need for technological upgrades and potential government subsidies or support for compliance.
- Balancing upfront costs with long-term societal benefits.
- Potential legal challenges or compliance issues from companies or stakeholders.