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: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who are blind, deaf, or have other disabilities
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill aims to enhance the accessibility of communications technologies for individuals with disabilities.
- There are an estimated 466 million people worldwide with disabling hearing loss according to the World Health Organization.
- There are an estimated 253 million people worldwide living with vision impairment.
- The bill also includes individuals with other disabilities who face accessibility issues with current and emerging communications technologies.
- With the rise of digital content consumption, closed captioning for online and televised programming can greatly enhance accessibility for these populations globally.
Reasoning
- The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act targets a significant proportion of the population, approximately 50 million Americans, who experience disabilities impacting their communication technology usage.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy's direct and substantial impact is more likely to be observed in individuals who are currently missing essential technology features, such as those needing closed captions or audio descriptions that are not currently available.
- The range of impacts can vary based on factors such as the degree of visual or hearing impairment and the dependency on these technologies for personal or professional activities.
- Not all individuals with disabilities will experience the same level of benefit; some may see technological adaptations as life-changing, while others may only see minor improvements.
- The scale of the budget compared to the population size suggests a moderate per capita investment, implying a mixed range of benefit levels based on the individual's specific needs and current accessibility shortfalls.
Simulated Interviews
Software Developer (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I constantly face issues with websites and videos not being optimized for screen readers.
- The policy sounds promising as it would enforce more videos to have audio descriptions, making learning materials more accessible.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Accountant (Austin, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having captions on online news would make it easier for me to stay informed without straining myself.
- The policy could also benefit many others in similar situations.
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 |
Content Creator (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Caption consistency across platforms is often lacking.
- Implementing mandatory captions would save me time and frustration.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Many educational platforms lack accessible content.
- The bill could make online teaching resources more usable for people like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Televised content often lacks adequate captions.
- Requiring more programs to include captions would enhance my viewing experience significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Project Manager (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the policy would benefit others more than me, but it's good to see accessibility being taken seriously.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Research Scientist (Boston, MA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced audio descriptions could increase my productivity at work by better understanding video materials.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accessibility improvements could make a big difference in my education experience.
- Video content is increasingly part of my curriculum and not all of it is optimized for visual impairments.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think implementing these changes will help a lot of older people enjoy TV more and stay connected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Freelance Journalist (Denver, CO)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important that we consider accessibility in technology development.
- This policy might not affect me personally, but it sets a strong precedent for inclusion.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 2: $550000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $650000000)
Year 3: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 5: $450000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $550000000)
Year 10: $400000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $500000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Key Considerations
- Compliance with the Act will require significant investment in technology and personnel training.
- The estimated costs may decrease after initial setup and may stabilize in subsequent years.
- Potential long-term benefits include increased participation of disabled individuals in the workforce.