Access Ready Inc. commends the FCC’s ruling on sustainable IP CTS rates, ensuring high-quality captioning services for 600,000 Americans. Supported by the Clear2Connect Coalition, this decision reflects successful advocacy for communication accessibility. The FCC’s five-year plan will bolster captioning quality, outreach, and ADA compliance. Access Ready continues to champion flexible captioning options and urges public support for ongoing initiatives. Learn more about Access Ready and the Clear2Connect Coalition’s mission to enhance ICT accessibility for all.
NEWS PROVIDED BY:
Access Ready, Inc.
August 6, 2024, 6:00 AM GMT
Washington, D.C., USA, August 6, 2024 — AT-Newswire.com / TopTechTidbits.com — Access Ready Inc. an independent nonprofit cross-disability rights advocacy organization extends its heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for their recent ruling in favor of maintaining economically viable rates for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) providers.
“The FCC’s decision is a testament to the power of collective advocacy and the importance of ensuring communication accessibility for all individuals with communications-based disabilities including many veterans with hearing loss.”
This ruling ensures that IP CTS providers can continue to offer high-quality accurate and reliable captioning services which are crucial for the approximately 600,000 Americans who rely on this service.
FCC’s Five-Year Compensation Plan:
Following significant advocacy efforts by Access Ready and the Clear2Connect Coalition the FCC has released a five-year compensation plan that affirms the necessity of adequate provider rates.
This plan will:
- Sustain providers’ capacity to enhance captioning quality and accuracy through ongoing research and development.
- Enable providers to serve as many IP CTS-eligible Americans as possible by investing in marketing and outreach efforts.
- Ensure the continued provision of functionally equivalent communications services as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Leadership and Advocacy:
“We are immensely grateful to the Clear2Connect Coalition for its leadership and unwavering commitment to this cause,” said Douglas George Towne, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Access Ready Inc. “The FCC’s decision is a testament to the power of collective advocacy and the importance of ensuring communication accessibility for all individuals with communications-based disabilities including many veterans with hearing loss.”
Ongoing Advocacy Efforts:
While celebrating this victory Access Ready recognizes that the work does not end here. Our colleagues from TDIforAccess Inc. (TDI) the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) are currently petitioning the FCC to require IP CTS providers to offer consumers the option to switch from Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR)-generated captions to a human captioner at any point during their call.
Call to Action:
Access Ready urges stakeholders and the public to continue supporting these initiatives. For those interested in filing a joint comment on the petition please email the Clear2Connect Coalition at info@clear2connect.org. Comments are due by September 3, 2024. Public support is crucial in urging the FCC to mandate flexible captioning options that cater to the diverse needs of users.
Public Support and Awareness:
The Clear2Connect Coalition and Access Ready encourage the public to raise awareness about the critical importance of IP CTS. They provide ready-to-share content and a media kit to help spread the message across social media platforms.
Contact Information:
Douglas George Towne
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Access Ready Inc.
+1 (727) 452-8132
chair-ceo@accessready.org
Allison Wohl
On behalf of the Clear2Connect Coalition
+1 (301) 767-7547
info@clear2connect.org
About Access Ready Inc.:
Access Ready Inc. is dedicated to promoting the accessibility of information and communications technologies (ICT) for all. Founded on October 17, 2018, Access Ready envisions a society where ICT accessibility is inherent. Their mission is to eliminate barriers and incentivize the development of accessible technologies.
About the Clear2Connect Coalition:
The Clear2Connect Coalition a unique and unified force of more than 30 disability advocacy groups and Veterans Service Organizations aims to enhance the availability accuracy accessibility and quality of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) through rigorous standards-based policy.
The Coalition is dedicated to fostering equitable and effective communication access for all Americans recognizing that accessible communication is foundational to ensuring the health and safety of every member of our community.
For more details visit Access Ready and Clear2Connect.