CEA Responds to Communications and Video Accessibility Act Jul 1, 2010

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Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro said Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009, which just passed a house subcommittee, was well-intentioned but would create big problems for electronics makers.

On June 30, 2010, the House Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet passed H.R.3101, the “Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009.” CEA said the bill as-passed would require every feature of every product connected to the Internet to be accessible by every person with every type of disability, unless the FCC grants a waiver to a petitioning innovator based on highly limited exceptions.

"This legislation is well-intentioned but would create enormous burdens on innovators seeking to introduce new products and features," Shapiro said. "Almost every Subcommittee member who spoke on the legislation today acknowledged the bill is flawed and expressed a desire to improve the bill prior to full Committee consideration. We take the Members at their word and look forward to working with them so we can meet the need to provide hearing and visually-impaired Americans with access to technology without requiring innovators to meet unknowable government-mandated design standards."

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