Dear Senator,

I am writing to urge you to cosponsor the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act introduced by Senator Markey and Representative Eshoo.

Since Congress enacted the bipartisan 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) in 2010, accessibility requirements for people with disabilities have not kept pace with changing technologies. As a result, individuals with disabilities do not have full access to many communication and video tools that are essential in today's society. It is imperative that Congress takes action to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of daily life through accessible communication tools, video programming, and emerging technologies.

The CVTA Act aims to enhance communications, video, and technology accessibility for individuals who are blind, low vision, deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing by:

● Improving and expanding audio description and close caption standards for television programming and online video streaming platforms to ensure equitable access to a wide range of programming available to the public.
● Updating current requirements to ensure viewers can easily activate and select preferred settings for audio description and closed captioning on their video programming devices, such as televisions, smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
● Requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that all video conferencing services, including those used for telehealth, distance learning, and social and civic engagement, are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
● Empowering the FCC to ensure accessibility regulations keep pace with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and augmented or virtual reality platforms.

Passage of this bill will bring preexisting law up to date with existing technology and enhance access for millions of Americans with disabilities.

Thank you for considering my request to cosponsor the CVTA Act. Your support is crucial in ensuring equitable access to communication and video technologies for individuals with disabilities.

Dear Representative,

I am writing to urge you to cosponsor the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act introduced by Senator Markey and Representative Eshoo.

Since Congress enacted the bipartisan 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) in 2010, accessibility requirements for people with disabilities have not kept pace with changing technologies. As a result, individuals with disabilities do not have full access to many communication and video tools that are essential in today's society. It is imperative that Congress takes action to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of daily life through accessible communication tools, video programming, and emerging technologies.

The CVTA Act aims to enhance communications, video, and technology accessibility for individuals who are blind, low vision, deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing by:

● Improving and expanding audio description and close caption standards for television programming and online video streaming platforms to ensure equitable access to a wide range of programming available to the public.
● Updating current requirements to ensure viewers can easily activate and select preferred settings for audio description and closed captioning on their video programming devices, such as televisions, smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
● Requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that all video conferencing services, including those used for telehealth, distance learning, and social and civic engagement, are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
● Empowering the FCC to ensure accessibility regulations keep pace with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and augmented or virtual reality platforms.

Passage of this bill will bring preexisting law up to date with existing technology and enhance access for millions of Americans with disabilities.

Thank you for considering my request to cosponsor the CVTA Act. Your support is crucial in ensuring equitable access to communication and video technologies for individuals with disabilities.