[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2494 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2494

 To update the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act 
                                of 2010.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 25, 2023

Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. 
 Warren, Mr. Welch, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Fetterman) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To update the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act 
                                of 2010.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Communications, 
Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2023''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
            TITLE I--CLOSED CAPTIONING AND AUDIO DESCRIPTION

Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Closed captioning.
Sec. 103. Audio description.
Sec. 104. Technical and conforming amendments relating to economic 
                            burden.
Sec. 105. American Sign Language video programming.
Sec. 106. Internet protocol closed captioning and audio description 
                            advisory committee.
                  TITLE II--VIDEO PLAYBACK APPARATUSES

Sec. 201. Video playback apparatuses.
                   TITLE III--COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

Sec. 301. Video conferencing.
Sec. 302. Relay services.
Sec. 303. National DeafBlind equipment distribution program.
Sec. 304. Advanced Communications Services Advisory Committee.
Sec. 305. Real-time text.
Sec. 306. Advanced communications services software.
                     TITLE IV--EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 401. Emerging technology.
                   TITLE V--ENFORCEMENT AND REPORTING

Sec. 501. Accessibility enforcement.
Sec. 502. Reports to Congress.

            TITLE I--CLOSED CAPTIONING AND AUDIO DESCRIPTION

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 713(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 
(47 U.S.C. 613(h)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Video 
                description'' and inserting ``Audio description''; and
                    (B) by striking ``video description'' and inserting 
                ``audio description'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (6);
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Live programming.--The term `live programming' means 
        video programming published or exhibited or made available 
        substantially simultaneously with its performance.
            ``(3) Near-live programming.--The term `near-live 
        programming' means video programming that is not live 
        programming and is published or exhibited or made available not 
        more than 12 hours after its performance and recording.
            ``(4) Prerecorded programming.--The term `prerecorded 
        programming' means video programming that is not live 
        programming or near-live programming.
            ``(5) User-generated video.--The term `user-generated 
        video' means video programming that is--
                    ``(A) made available via a service using Internet 
                protocol or any successor protocol;
                    ``(B) created and added to the service by a user of 
                the service; and
                    ``(C) not the subject of a contractual arrangement 
                between the user and the service that obliges the user 
                to create the programming specifically for delivery via 
                the service.''; and
            (4) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``means programming'' and inserting 
                the following: ``--
                    ``(A) means--
                            ``(i) programming'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A)(i), as so designated, by 
                striking ``, but not including'' and all that follows 
                and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(ii) audiovisual programming made 
                        available via Internet protocol or any 
                        successor protocol--
                                    ``(I) including--
                                            ``(aa) programming provided 
                                        on demand at the request of a 
                                        viewer; and
                                            ``(bb) programming streamed 
                                        live or at a prescribed time or 
                                        times to all or a subset of 
                                        viewers; and
                                    ``(II) regardless of whether or not 
                                the programming is generally considered 
                                comparable to programming provided by a 
                                television broadcast station; and
                    ``(B) does not include user-generated video unless 
                the user-generated video is generated by an entity that 
                also generates video programming that is--
                            ``(i) not user-generated video in the 
                        ordinary course of its business; or
                            ``(ii) generated by an entity that earns 
                        more than $1,000,000 in annual revenue 
                        resulting from user-generated videos.''.
    (b) Definition of ``Achievable''.--Section 716(g) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 617(g)) is amended, in the matter 
preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``section 718'' and inserting 
``sections 713, 716A, and 718''.
    (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Repeal of definition of ``consumer generated media''.--
        Section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (14); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (59) 
                as paragraphs (14) through (58), respectively.
            (2) Other amendments.--
                    (A) Section 271(c)(1)(A) of the Communications Act 
                of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 271(c)(1)(A)) is amended by striking 
                ``section 3(47)(A)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (A) 
                of the paragraph defining that term in section 3''.
                    (B) Section 203(a) of the Rural Electrification Act 
                of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 924(a)) is amended by striking 
                ``section 3(o)'' and inserting ``section 3''.
                    (C) Section 248 of the Television Broadcasting to 
                Cuba Act (22 U.S.C. 1465ff) is amended by striking 
                ``section 3(c)'' each place the term appears and 
                inserting ``section 3''.
    (d) Modernizing Title of Head of Commission.--The Communications 
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 4 (47 U.S.C. 154)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(a)'';
                            (ii) by striking ``chairman'' and inserting 
                        ``Chair''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Any reference in any law, regulation, document, 
        paper, or other record of the United States to the chairman or 
        the Chairman of the Commission shall be deemed to be a 
        reference to the Chair of the Commission.'';
                    (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``Chairman'' 
                each place the term appears and inserting ``Chair'';
                    (C) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``chairman'' 
                each place the term appears and inserting ``Chair''; 
                and
                    (D) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``chairman'' 
                and inserting ``Chair'';
            (2) in section 5 (47 U.S.C. 155)--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``chairman'' 
                each place the term appears and inserting ``Chair''; 
                and
                    (B) in subsection (e), by striking ``Chairman'' 
                each place the term appears and inserting ``Chair'';
            (3) in section 13(c) (47 U.S.C. 163(c)), by striking 
        ``Chairman'' and inserting ``Chair'';
            (4) in section 309(j)(8)(G)(iv) (47 U.S.C. 
        309(j)(8)(G)(iv)), by striking ``Chairman'' and inserting 
        ``Chair'';
            (5) in section 344 (47 U.S.C. 344)--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``Chairman'' 
                and inserting ``Chair'';
                    (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``Chairman'' 
                each place the term appears and inserting ``Chair''; 
                and
            (6) in section 410(c) (47 U.S.C. 410(c)), by striking 
        ``Chairman of the Commission'' and inserting ``Chair of the 
        Commission''.

SEC. 102. CLOSED CAPTIONING.

    (a) In General.--Section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 613) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) as 
        subsections (e) through (i), respectively;
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) 
        and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Deadlines for programming made available using 
        internet protocol.--
                    ``(A) Regulations on closed captioning on video 
                programming made available using internet protocol or 
                successor protocol.--Not later than 18 months after the 
                date of submission of the report to the Commission 
                required under section 106(f)(1) of the Communications, 
                Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2023, the 
                Commission shall revise its regulations to require the 
                provision, receipt, and display of closed captioning on 
                video programming made available using Internet 
                protocol or any successor protocol published or 
                exhibited after the effective date of the revised 
                regulations.
                    ``(B) Schedule.--The regulations revised under this 
                paragraph shall include an appropriate schedule of 
                deadlines, the latest of which shall be not later than 
                6 years after the date of submission of the report to 
                the Commission required under section 106(f)(1) of the 
                Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act 
                of 2023, for the provision, receipt, and display of 
                closed captioning on video programming made available 
                using Internet protocol or any successor protocol, 
                taking into account whether the programming--
                            ``(i) is prerecorded, live, or near-live;
                            ``(ii) has been made available to viewers 
                        before the effective date of the revised 
                        regulations; and
                            ``(iii) was live or near-live at the time 
                        it was initially made available.
                    ``(C) Requirements for regulations.--The 
                regulations revised under this paragraph--
                            ``(i) shall--
                                    ``(I) ensure that English-language 
                                and Spanish-language video programming 
                                first published or exhibited after the 
                                effective date of the revised 
                                regulations is fully accessible through 
                                the provision of closed captions in the 
                                original language of the audio track of 
                                the programming;
                                    ``(II) define categories of 
                                entities engaged in making available 
                                video programming; and
                                    ``(III) apportion the 
                                responsibilities for the provision, 
                                quality, pass-through, and rendering of 
                                closed captions among the entities 
                                defined by the Commission under 
                                subclause (II)--
                                            ``(aa) to ensure full 
                                        access by viewers via all 
                                        entities and combinations of 
                                        entities that make video 
                                        programming available to 
                                        viewers;
                                            ``(bb) to ensure that the 
                                        regulations can be enforced 
                                        effectively against responsible 
                                        parties; and
                                            ``(cc) to ensure that 
                                        closed caption data remains 
                                        with the video programming to 
                                        which the data is added and is 
                                        distributed in common formats 
                                        so that closed captions can be 
                                        exhibited intact by all other 
                                        entities that subsequently make 
                                        the programming available to 
                                        viewers;
                            ``(ii) shall require that an entity engaged 
                        in making available user-generated video, 
                        whether or not the entity is also engaged in 
                        making available video that is not user-
                        generated video, provide easy-to-use authoring 
                        tools that--
                                    ``(I) permit users who post videos 
                                on the entity's platform to add closed 
                                captions; and
                                    ``(II) conspicuously prompt users 
                                who post videos on the entity's 
                                platform to use the tools;
                            ``(iii) shall not distinguish between full-
                        length programming and video clips; and
                            ``(iv) for the purposes of determining 
                        closed captioning obligations under this 
                        section and assessing compliance with the 
                        regulations of the Commission governing the 
                        quality of closed captioning under paragraphs 
                        (j), (k), and (m) of section 79.1 of title 47, 
                        Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
                        regulation governing closed captioning quality, 
                        treat any programming that was live programming 
                        or near-live programming at the time that it 
                        was initially made available to viewers as 
                        prerecorded programming if it is again made 
                        available to viewers more than 24 hours after 
                        its initial availability.'';
            (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Caption Quality Updates.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
        enactment of the Communications, Video, and Technology 
        Accessibility Act of 2023, the Commission shall revise its 
        regulations to extend the requirements for the quality of 
        closed captions under paragraphs (j), (k), and (m) of section 
        79.1 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
        regulation, to all programming made available via Internet 
        protocol or any successor protocol.
            ``(2) Regular updates.--Not later than 4 years after the 
        date of enactment of the Communications, Video, and Technology 
        Accessibility Act of 2023, and every 4 years thereafter, the 
        Commission shall--
                    ``(A) update its regulations pertaining to the 
                quality of closed captions as necessary to reflect 
                technological and methodological advances, to the 
                extent deployment of such advances will improve the 
                quality of closed captions; and
                    ``(B) take any action, including enforcement, 
                necessary to ensure compliance with its regulations 
                pertaining to the quality of closed captions.''; and
            (4) in subsection (e), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``subsection (b)'' and inserting ``subsections 
                (b) and (c)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the provider or 
                owner of such programming'' and inserting ``an entity 
                responsible for publishing, exhibiting, or making 
                available such programming''; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(3) an entity responsible for publishing, exhibiting, or 
        making available video programming may petition the Commission 
        for an exemption from the requirements of subsection (b) or 
        (c), and the Commission may grant the petition upon a showing 
        that the requirements would be economically burdensome. The 
        Commission shall act to grant or deny any such petition, in 
        whole or in part, not later than 6 months after the Commission 
        receives the petition, unless the Commission finds that an 
        extension of the 6-month period is necessary to determine 
        whether the requirements are economically burdensome.''.
    (b) Elimination of Certain Categorical Exemptions.--Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal 
Communications Commission shall reassess the second sentence of 
paragraph (a)(10) and reassess paragraph (d) of section 79.1 of title 
47, Code of Federal Regulations, to eliminate categorical exemptions 
that impede access to video programming, are outdated, or are no longer 
warranted under subsection (e)(1) of section 713 of the Communications 
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613), as so redesignated by subsection (a) of 
this section.

SEC. 103. AUDIO DESCRIPTION.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (g) of section 713 of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613), as redesignated by section 
102, is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``Video'' and inserting 
        ``Audio''; and
            (2) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(2) Revision to reinstated audio description regulations 
        for programming published or exhibited on television.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 18 months after 
                the date of enactment of the Communications, Video, and 
                Technology Accessibility Act of 2023, the Commission 
                shall revise section 79.3 of title 47, Code of Federal 
                Regulations (relating to audio description of video 
                programming) in accordance with subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The regulations revised under 
                subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) shall ensure that all English-
                        language and Spanish-language video programming 
                        first published or exhibited on television 
                        after the effective date of the revised 
                        regulations is fully accessible through the 
                        provision of audio description in the original 
                        language of the audio track of the programming;
                            ``(ii) shall include an appropriate 
                        schedule of deadlines, the latest of which 
                        shall be not later than 6 years after the 
                        effective date of the revised regulations, for 
                        the provision, receipt, and performance of 
                        audio described programming published or 
                        exhibited on television, taking into account 
                        whether the programming--
                                    ``(I) is prerecorded, live, or 
                                near-live;
                                    ``(II) has been published or 
                                exhibited prior to the effective date 
                                of the revised regulations; and
                                    ``(III) was live or near-live at 
                                the time it was initially published or 
                                exhibited;
                            ``(iii) shall provide that audio described 
                        programming published or exhibited on 
                        television shall--
                                    ``(I) be labeled and searchable or 
                                otherwise easily discoverable through 
                                navigation devices, apparatuses, 
                                applications, and other methods by 
                                which the programming is published or 
                                exhibited; and
                                    ``(II) include a recognizable tone 
                                at the beginning of the programming on 
                                all audio channels provided in the same 
                                languages as the available audio 
                                description streams to indicate that 
                                audio description is available in those 
                                languages;
                            ``(iv) shall provide that audio description 
                        of video programming published or exhibited on 
                        television shall be made available to the 
                        public on an audio channel solely dedicated to 
                        audio description, so long as it is achievable 
                        (as defined in section 716);
                            ``(v) shall require any entity involved in 
                        the publishing or exhibiting of audio described 
                        programming published or exhibited on 
                        television to provide contact information, 
                        consistent with sections 79.1(i) and 
                        79.4(c)(2)(iii) of title 47, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations, or any successor regulations, for 
                        users to report problems related to audio 
                        description; and
                            ``(vi) for the purposes of determining 
                        audio description obligations under this 
                        paragraph and assessing compliance with 
                        regulations adopted to assess the quality of 
                        audio description under paragraph (4), shall 
                        treat any programming that was live or near-
                        live programming at the time of its initial 
                        airing as prerecorded programming if it is re-
                        exhibited by an entity more than 36 hours after 
                        its initial airing.
            ``(3) Audio description on video programming made available 
        via internet protocol.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of submission of the report to the Commission 
                required under subsection 106(f)(2) of the 
                Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act 
                of 2023, the Commission shall revise its regulations to 
                require the provision, receipt, and performance of 
                audio description on video programming made available 
                using Internet protocol or any successor protocol 
                published or exhibited after the effective date of the 
                revised regulations.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The regulations revised under 
                subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) shall ensure that all video 
                        programming made available using Internet 
                        protocol or any successor protocol is fully 
                        accessible through the provision of audio 
                        description;
                            ``(ii) shall include an appropriate 
                        schedule of deadlines, the latest of which 
                        shall be not later than 6 years after the 
                        effective date of the revised regulations, for 
                        the provision, receipt, and performance of 
                        audio described programming made available 
                        using Internet protocol or any successor 
                        protocol, taking into account whether the 
                        programming--
                                    ``(I) is prerecorded, live, or 
                                near-live;
                                    ``(II) has been made available to 
                                users prior to the effective date of 
                                the revised regulations; and
                                    ``(III) was live or near-live at 
                                the time it was initially made 
                                available;
                            ``(iii) shall--
                                    ``(I) define categories of entities 
                                engaged in making available video 
                                programming using Internet protocol or 
                                any successor protocol; and
                                    ``(II) apportion the 
                                responsibilities for the provision, 
                                quality, pass-through, and performance 
                                of audio description among the entities 
                                identified by the Commission under 
                                subclause (I)--
                                            ``(aa) to ensure full 
                                        access by viewers;
                                            ``(bb) to ensure that the 
                                        regulations can be enforced 
                                        effectively against responsible 
                                        parties; and
                                            ``(cc) to ensure that audio 
                                        description data remains with 
                                        the video programming to which 
                                        the data is added and is 
                                        distributed in common formats 
                                        so that audio description can 
                                        be exhibited intact by all 
                                        other entities that 
                                        subsequently make the 
                                        programming available to 
                                        viewers;
                            ``(iv) shall require that an entity engaged 
                        in making available user-generated video, 
                        whether or not the entity is also engaged in 
                        making available video that is not user-
                        generated video, provides easy-to-use authoring 
                        tools that--
                                    ``(I) permit users who post videos 
                                on the entity's platform to add audio 
                                description; and
                                    ``(II) conspicuously prompt users 
                                who post videos on the entity's 
                                platform to use the tools;
                            ``(v) shall provide that audio described 
                        programming made available using Internet 
                        protocol or any successor protocol shall--
                                    ``(I) be labeled and searchable or 
                                otherwise easily discoverable through 
                                navigation devices, apparatuses, 
                                applications, and other methods on 
                                which the programming is made 
                                available; and
                                    ``(II) include a recognizable tone 
                                at the beginning of the programming on 
                                all audio channels provided in the same 
                                languages as the available audio 
                                description streams to indicate that 
                                audio description is available in those 
                                languages;
                            ``(vi) shall provide that audio description 
                        of video programming made available using 
                        Internet protocol or any successor protocol 
                        shall be provided on an audio track solely 
                        dedicated to audio description, so long as it 
                        is achievable (as defined in section 716);
                            ``(vii) shall require entities engaged in 
                        making available audio described programming 
                        using Internet protocol or any successor 
                        protocol to provide contact information, 
                        consistent with sections 79.1(i) and 
                        79.4(c)(2)(iii) of title 47, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations, or any successor regulations, for 
                        users to report problems related to audio 
                        description; and
                            ``(viii) for the purposes of determining 
                        audio description obligations under this 
                        paragraph and assessing compliance with 
                        regulations adopted to assess the quality of 
                        audio description under paragraph (4), shall 
                        treat any programming that was live or near-
                        live programming at the time it was initially 
                        made available as prerecorded programming if it 
                        is made available by any entity more than 36 
                        hours after it was initially made available.
            ``(4) Audio description quality.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the 
                date of submission of the report to the Commission 
                required under subsection 106(f)(2) of the 
                Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act 
                of 2023, the Commission shall adopt regulations to 
                ensure the quality of audio description on video 
                programming, including video programming published or 
                exhibited on television or made available via Internet 
                protocol or any successor protocol, as necessary to 
                afford access to video programming that is functionally 
                equivalent to the access provided by the visual 
                components of the programming, including, to the extent 
                practicable, open subtitles in the same language as the 
                audio or in other languages if the subtitles convey 
                information relevant to the program that is not 
                conveyed in the audio of the program.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The regulations adopted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall require that audio description--
                            ``(i) sufficiently convey key elements of 
                        the visual component;
                            ``(ii) be appropriately voiced, considering 
                        whether the use of synthetic voices is 
                        permissible and if so, under what 
                        circumstances; and
                            ``(iii) be appropriately edited and encoded 
                        to ensure consistency with the editing and 
                        encoding of the non-description audio track of 
                        the programming.
            ``(5) Audio description exemptions.--Notwithstanding 
        paragraphs (2) and (3)--
                    ``(A) the Commission may exempt by regulation from 
                the requirements under paragraphs (2) and (3) programs, 
                classes of programs, or services for which the 
                Commission has determined that the provision of audio 
                description would be economically burdensome to an 
                entity responsible for publishing or exhibiting or 
                making available such programming; and
                    ``(B) an entity responsible for publishing or 
                exhibiting or making available video programming may 
                petition the Commission for an exemption from the 
                requirements under paragraphs (2) and (3), and the 
                Commission may grant the exemption upon a showing that 
                the requirement to include audio description would be 
                economically burdensome. The Commission shall act to 
                grant or deny any such petition, in whole or in part, 
                not later than 6 months after the Commission receives 
                the petition, unless the Commission finds that an 
                extension of the 6-month period is necessary to 
                determine whether the requirements are economically 
                burdensome.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Title III of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303)--
                    (A) in subsection (u)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1)(B)--
                                    (I) by striking ``video 
                                description'' and inserting ``audio 
                                description''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``section 713(f)'' 
                                and inserting ``section 713(g)''; and
                            (ii) by moving the left margin of that 
                        subsection and each paragraph, subparagraph, 
                        and clause therein 2 ems to the left; and
                    (B) in subsection (z)(1), by striking ``video 
                description'' each place the term appears and inserting 
                ``audio description''; and
            (2) in section 330(b) (47 U.S.C. 330(b)), by striking 
        ``video description'' each place the term appears and inserting 
        ``audio description''.

SEC. 104. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO ECONOMIC 
              BURDEN.

    Subsection (f) of section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 613), as redesignated by section 102, is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``The term `undue burden' means'' 
                and inserting ``For purposes of this section, the term 
                `economically burdensome' means'';
                    (B) by inserting ``or audio description'' after 
                ``closed captions'';
                    (C) by striking ``this paragraph'' and inserting 
                ``subsections (e) and (g)(5)''; and
                    (D) by striking ``result in an undue economic 
                burden'' and inserting ``be economically burdensome''; 
                and
            (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or audio description'' 
        after ``closed captions''.

SEC. 105. AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE VIDEO PROGRAMMING.

    Section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (i) (as redesignated by 
        section 102) and (j) as subsections (j) and (k), respectively; 
        and
            (2) by inserting before subsection (j), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
    ``(i) American Sign Language Interpretation of Video Programming.--
Not later than 2 years after the date of submission of the report to 
the Commission required under section 106(f)(3) of the Communications, 
Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2023, the Commission shall 
prescribe regulations to--
            ``(1) establish uniform standards for the display and 
        visibility of American Sign Language interpretation where it is 
        provided for video programming, including standards for 
        ensuring that an interpreter is visible on the viewer's screen 
        during the programming; and
            ``(2) ensure that all video programming published or 
        exhibited on television or made available via Internet protocol 
        or any successor protocol that includes American Sign Language 
        interpretation complies with the uniform standards established 
        under paragraph (1) to the extent that compliance with such 
        standards is achievable (as defined in section 716) by each 
        entity responsible for delivering the programming.''.

SEC. 106. INTERNET PROTOCOL CLOSED CAPTIONING AND AUDIO DESCRIPTION 
              ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee'' 
        means the Closed Captioning and Audio Description Advisory 
        Committee established under subsection (b).
            (2) Chair.--The term ``Chair'' means the Chair of the 
        Commission.
            (3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Chair shall establish an advisory committee 
to be known as the ``Closed Captioning and Audio Description Advisory 
Committee''.
    (c) Membership.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Chair shall appoint individuals who have the technical 
knowledge and engineering expertise to serve on the Advisory Committee 
in the fulfillment of its duties, including the following:
            (1) Representatives of entities engaged in making available 
        video programming Internet protocol or any successor protocol, 
        or a national organization or organization representing such 
        entities.
            (2) Representatives of vendors, developers, and 
        manufacturers of systems, facilities, equipment, and 
        capabilities for the provision of video programming, including 
        programming delivered using Internet protocol or successor 
        protocols, or a national organization representing such 
        vendors, developers, or manufacturers.
            (3) Representatives of manufacturers of consumer 
        electronics or information technology equipment used in the 
        delivery of video programming, including programming delivered 
        via Internet protocol or successor protocols, or a national 
        organization representing such manufacturers.
            (4) Individuals with expertise generating user-generated 
        video, or a national organization representing such 
        individuals.
            (5) Representatives of national organizations representing 
        accessibility advocates, including people with disabilities and 
        older Americans.
            (6) Representatives of service agencies engaged in the 
        provision of captioning and audio description for video 
        programming, including programming delivered via Internet 
        protocol or successor protocols.
            (7) Academic experts or representatives of research 
        institutes with expertise on captioning and audio description.
            (8) Individuals with technical and engineering expertise, 
        as the Chair determines appropriate.
    (d) Commission Oversight.--The Chair shall appoint a member of the 
Commission's staff to moderate and direct the work of the Advisory 
Committee.
    (e) Technical Staff.--The Chair shall appoint a member of the 
Commission's technical staff to provide technical assistance to the 
Advisory Committee.
    (f) Development of Recommendations.--
            (1) Closed captioning report.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date of the first meeting of the Advisory Committee, the 
        Advisory Committee shall develop and submit to the Commission a 
        report that includes the following:
                    (A) A recommended schedule of deadlines for the 
                provision of closed captioning on video programming 
                made available via Internet protocol or any successor 
                protocol.
                    (B) Identification of the protocols, technical 
                capabilities, and technical procedures needed to permit 
                responsible entities to reliably provide, receive, and 
                display closed captions of video programming made 
                available via using Internet protocol or any successor 
                protocol.
                    (C) Identification of additional protocols, 
                technical capabilities, and technical procedures beyond 
                those available as of the date of enactment of this Act 
                needed for the provision, receipt, and display of 
                closed captions of video programming made available 
                using Internet protocol or any successor protocol.
                    (D) A recommendation for technical standards to 
                address the protocols, capabilities, and procedures 
                identified under subparagraph (B).
                    (E) A recommendation for any regulations that may 
                be necessary to ensure compatibility between video 
                programming made available using Internet protocol or 
                any successor protocol and apparatuses and navigation 
                devices capable of receiving and displaying such 
                programming in order to facilitate access to closed 
                captions.
                    (F) An identification of attributes of easy-to-use 
                authoring tools that can be used by viewers to add 
                closed captions to video programming made available 
                using Internet protocol or any successor protocol.
                    (G) An identification of the categories of entities 
                involved in the online delivery of video programming, 
                along with a recommendation on how to apportion the 
                responsibilities for the provision, quality, pass-
                through, and display of closed captions among those 
                entities to ensure full access by viewers.
                    (H) A recommendation for best practices for 
                ensuring that programming that was live programming or 
                near-live programming at the time that it was initially 
                made available to viewers is subsequently made 
                available at the level of quality required for 
                prerecorded programming.
                    (I) A recommendation for defining metrics and 
                thresholds to be used for measuring the accuracy, 
                synchronicity, completeness, and placement of closed 
                captions for live programming as necessary to afford 
                access to video programming that is functionally 
                equivalent to the access provided by the audio track, 
                with minimum thresholds that are neutral to different 
                modalities for creating closed captions.
            (2) Audio description report.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date of the first meeting of the Advisory Committee, the 
        Advisory Committee shall develop and submit to the Commission a 
        report that includes the following:
                    (A) A recommended schedule of deadlines for the 
                provision of audio description on video programming 
                made available using Internet protocol or any successor 
                protocol.
                    (B) Identification of the protocols, technical 
                capabilities, and technical procedures needed to permit 
                responsible entities to reliably provide, receive, and 
                perform audio description of video programming made 
                available via Internet protocol or any successor 
                protocol.
                    (C) Identification of additional protocols, 
                technical capabilities, and technical procedures beyond 
                those available as of the date of enactment of this Act 
                needed for the delivery of audio description of video 
                programming.
                    (D) A recommendation for technical standards to 
                address the protocols, capabilities, and procedures 
                identified under subparagraph (B).
                    (E) A recommendation for any regulations that may 
                be necessary to ensure compatibility between video 
                programming made available using Internet protocol or 
                any successor protocol and apparatuses and navigation 
                devices capable of receiving and displaying such 
                programming in order to facilitate access to audio 
                description.
                    (F) A recommendation for standards, protocols, and 
                procedures to ensure that audio described video 
                programming is labeled and searchable or otherwise 
                easily discoverable through navigation devices, 
                apparatuses, applications, and other methods on which 
                such programming is published or exhibited or made 
                available.
                    (G) A recommendation for the achievability of 
                making audio description available on a dedicated audio 
                channel.
                    (H) An identification of the categories of entities 
                engaged in the online delivery of video programming, 
                along with a recommendation on how to apportion the 
                responsibilities for the provision, quality, pass-
                through, and performance of audio description among 
                those entities to ensure full access by viewers.
                    (I) A recommendation for defining metrics to be 
                used for measuring the quality of audio description as 
                necessary to afford access to video programming that is 
                functionally equivalent to the access provided 
                visually.
                    (J) An identification of easy-to-use authoring 
                tools that can be used by viewers to add audio 
                description to video programming made available via 
                Internet protocol or any successor protocol.
            (3) American sign language video programming report.--Not 
        later than 180 days after the date of the first meeting of the 
        Advisory Committee, the Advisory Committee shall develop and 
        submit to the Commission a report that includes a 
        recommendation for standards for the display and visibility of 
        American Sign Language interpretation where it is provided for 
        video programming, including standards for ensuring that an 
        interpreter is visible on a viewer's screen during the 
        programming.
            (4) Consideration of work by standards-setting 
        organizations.--The recommendations of the Advisory Committee 
        shall, insofar as possible, incorporate standards, protocols, 
        and procedures that have been adopted by recognized industry 
        standards-setting organizations for each of the purposes 
        described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).
    (g) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--The initial meeting of the Advisory 
        Committee shall take place not later than 45 days after the 
        date on which the Chair has appointed all the members of the 
        Advisory Committee under subsection (c).
            (2) Other meetings.--After the initial meeting, the 
        Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the Chair.
            (3) Notice; open meetings.--Any meeting held by the 
        Advisory Committee--
                    (A) shall be noticed not later than 14 days before 
                the meeting; and
                    (B) shall be open to the public.
    (h) Procedural Rules.--
            (1) Quorum.--The presence of one-third of the members of 
        the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting 
        the business of the Advisory Committee.
            (2) Subcommittees.--To assist the Advisory Committee in 
        carrying out its functions, the Chair may establish appropriate 
        subcommittees composed of members of the Advisory Committee and 
        other subject matter experts.
            (3) Additional procedural rules.--The Advisory Committee 
        may adopt other procedural rules as needed.
    (i) Inapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Chapter 10 
of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to the 
Advisory Committee or the activities of the Advisory Committee.

                  TITLE II--VIDEO PLAYBACK APPARATUSES

SEC. 201. VIDEO PLAYBACK APPARATUSES.

    (a) In General.--Section 303 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 303) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (u)--
                    (A) by adjusting the margins two ems to the left;
                    (B) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``visually 
                impaired'' and inserting ``low vision'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and 
                        (C) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
            (2) in subsection (z)--
                    (A) by adjusting the margins two ems to the left;
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``video 
                description'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``audio description''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``available to'' and 
                        inserting the following: ``available--
                    ``(A) to'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), as so 
                        designated--
                                    (I) by striking ``or render''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``audible.'' and 
                                inserting the following: ``audible, 
                                which--
                            ``(i) shall require encoding closed 
                        captions and audio description data along with 
                        audio and video transmission in a format that 
                        can be adjusted and rendered by the consumer 
                        equipment consistent with the requirements of 
                        subsection (cc); and
                            ``(ii) does not include merely rendering 
                        closed captions or audio description into 
                        visual or aural forms on the source device; 
                        and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) to enable the activation of closed captions, 
                audio description, and emergency information on the 
                consumer equipment.''; and
            (3) by striking subsections (aa) and (bb) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(aa) Require for all digital apparatus designed to receive or 
play back video programming made available simultaneously with sound, 
including apparatus designed to receive or display video programming 
made available using Internet protocol or any successor protocol, and 
navigation devices (as defined in section 76.1200 of title 47, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation) for the display or 
selection of multichannel video programming manufactured or imported 
into the United States, that each apparatus or device--
            ``(1) be designed, developed, and fabricated so that 
        control of appropriate built-in apparatus functions are 
        accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, 
        including individuals who are blind or low-vision, individuals 
        with mobility disabilities, and individuals with speech 
        disabilities, except that the Commission may not specify the 
        technical standards, protocols, procedures, and other technical 
        requirements for meeting this requirement;
            ``(2) if equipped with built-in on-screen text menus or 
        other visual indicators that are used to access its functions, 
        to accompany such functions with audio output that is either 
        integrated or peripheral to the apparatus or navigation device, 
        so that such menus or indicators are accessible to and usable 
        by individuals who are blind or low-vision in real-time;
            ``(3) provides easy access to closed captioning activation 
        by--
                    ``(A) if the apparatus or device is controlled by a 
                physical remote control included with the apparatus or 
                device at the time of purchase, providing a dedicated 
                and tactilely identifiable button of at least similar 
                size to other buttons on the remote control that is--
                            ``(i) clearly labeled for closed captions; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) easily locatable on the remote 
                        control to activate and deactivate closed 
                        captions; and
                    ``(B) if the apparatus or device is controlled by 
                means other than a remote control, providing a 
                dedicated button, key, or icon that is prominently 
                displayed, clearly labeled for closed captions, and 
                easily locatable to activate and deactivate closed 
                captions;
            ``(4) provides easy access to audio description activation 
        by--
                    ``(A) if the apparatus or device is controlled by a 
                physical remote control included with the apparatus or 
                device at the time of purchase, providing a dedicated 
                and tactilely identifiable button of at least similar 
                size to other buttons on the remote control that is--
                            ``(i) clearly labeled for audio 
                        description; and
                            ``(ii) easily locatable on the remote 
                        control to activate and deactivate audio 
                        description; and
                    ``(B) if the apparatus or device is controlled by 
                means other than a remote control, providing a 
                dedicated button, key, or icon that is prominently 
                displayed, clearly labeled for audio description, and 
                easily locatable to activate and deactivate audio 
                description;
            ``(5) provides easy access to closed captioning display 
        settings, including the technical capabilities set forth in 
        section 79.103(c) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
        any successor regulation, and audio description performance 
        settings, including the capability to adjust the relative 
        volumes of audio description and the audio track of a program, 
        by--
                    ``(A) if the apparatus or device is controlled by a 
                physical remote control included with the apparatus or 
                device at the time of purchase, providing a dedicated 
                and tactilely identifiable button that is prominently 
                displayed, clearly labeled for accessibility settings, 
                and easily locatable on the remote control--
                            ``(i) to permit the user to change closed 
                        captioning and audio description settings;
                            ``(ii) that permits previewing the settings 
                        while leaving the underlying programming 
                        visible and audible; and
                            ``(iii) that is of at least similar size to 
                        other buttons on the remote control; and
                    ``(B) if the apparatus or device is controlled by 
                means other than a remote control, providing a 
                dedicated button, key, or icon that is prominently 
                displayed, clearly labeled for accessibility settings, 
                and easily discoverable that--
                            ``(i) permits the user to change closed 
                        captioning display and audio description 
                        performance settings;
                            ``(ii) is displayed proximately to the 
                        video playback interface; and
                            ``(iii) permits previewing the settings 
                        while leaving the underlying programming 
                        visible and audible;
            ``(6) provides a user with a prompt to modify closed 
        caption activation and display settings and audio description 
        activation and performance settings required under paragraphs 
        (1) through (5) upon initial power-on after user purchase of 
        the apparatus or device or upon a reset to factory settings of 
        the apparatus or device;
            ``(7) ensures that closed caption activation and display 
        settings and audio description activation and performance 
        settings required under paragraphs (1) through (6) persist 
        across all video playback functionality on the apparatus or 
        device, including in applications or other software or plug-ins 
        added by the user after the sale of the apparatus or device, 
        and after powering off or restarting the apparatus or device, 
        until a user changes the settings or the apparatus or device is 
        reset to factory default settings by the user; and
            ``(8) provides the necessary hardware and software to 
        achieve compatibility with assistive technologies and services, 
        peripheral devices, or specialized customer premises equipment 
        commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve 
        access, including refreshable braille displays, switch 
        activation such as sip and puff devices, hearing aids, hands-
        free technologies, and voice control technologies.''.
    (b) Implementing Regulations.--
            (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``navigation 
        device'' has the meaning given the term in section 76.1200 of 
        title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
        regulation.
            (2) Requirement.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission 
        shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to implement 
        the amendments made by subsection (a), which shall--
                    (A) define categories of entities engaged in 
                manufacturing, importing into the United States, 
                maintaining, operating, or providing applications, 
                plugins, or other software for apparatus and navigation 
                devices; and
                    (B) apportion the responsibilities for compliance 
                with subsections (u), (z), and (aa) of section 303 of 
                the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 303) among 
                the entities defined by the Commission under paragraph 
                (1)--
                            (i) to ensure full access by viewers via 
                        all entities and combinations of entities 
                        responsible for digital apparatus and 
                        navigation devices; and
                            (ii) to ensure that the regulations can be 
                        enforced effectively against responsible 
                        parties.

                   TITLE III--COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

SEC. 301. VIDEO CONFERENCING.

    The Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 3 (47 U.S.C. 153), as amended by section 
        101--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking 
                ``interoperable'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (26), as so redesignated 
                by section 101;
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (27) through (58), 
                as so redesignated by section 101, as paragraphs (26) 
                through (57), respectively;
                    (D) by redesignating paragraph (57), as so 
                redesignated by subparagraph (C), as paragraph (60); 
                and
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (56), as so 
                redesignated by subparagraph (C), the following:
            ``(57) Video conferencing service.--The term `video 
        conferencing service' means a service that provides real-time 
        video communications, including audio, to enable users to share 
        information of the user's choosing.
            ``(58) Visual image descriptive functionality.--The term 
        `visual image descriptive functionality' means functionality 
        that generates real-time descriptions of visual information, 
        including images and text, for the purpose of conveying those 
        descriptions to individuals with disabilities.
            ``(59) Visual image descriptive service.--The term `visual 
        image descriptive service' means a third party service that 
        provides visual image descriptive functionality.''; and
            (2) in section 716(e) (47 U.S.C. 617(e)), by adding at the 
        end the following:
            ``(3) Revision of regulations; video conferencing 
        services.--Not later than 18 months after the date on which the 
        Advanced Communications Services Advisory Committee submits the 
        report required under section 304(f)(1) of the Communications, 
        Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2023, the Commission 
        shall revise the regulations promulgated under this subsection 
        to--
                    ``(A) require that all obligations applicable to 
                advanced communications services, and equipment used 
                for advanced communications services, extend to video 
                conferencing services and equipment used for video 
                conferencing services;
                    ``(B) require that all advanced communications 
                services and equipment capable of providing or enabling 
                video conferencing services--
                            ``(i) have built-in closed captioning 
                        functionality using automatic speech 
                        recognition or similar or successor 
                        technologies;
                            ``(ii) to the extent technically feasible, 
                        have built-in automated visual image 
                        functionality;
                            ``(iii) implement application programming 
                        interfaces or similar technical mechanisms to 
                        allow the interconnection of, and achieve 
                        compatibility with, assistive technologies and 
                        services, peripheral devices, and specialized 
                        customer premises equipment commonly used by 
                        individuals with disabilities to achieve 
                        access, including--
                                    ``(I) third-party captioning 
                                services;
                                    ``(II) third-party sign language 
                                interpreting services;
                                    ``(III) visual image descriptive 
                                services;
                                    ``(IV) telecommunications relay 
                                services that have been approved by the 
                                Commission under section 225;
                                    ``(V) screen-readers for all user 
                                interface elements and visual 
                                information, including presentations, 
                                videos, and interactive documents 
                                shared during video conference calls;
                                    ``(VI) refreshable braille displays 
                                and other devices used for the tactile 
                                conveyance of interface elements and 
                                visual information, including 
                                presentations, videos, and interactive 
                                documents shared during video 
                                conference calls; and
                                    ``(VII) hands-free technologies and 
                                voice control technologies;
                            ``(iv) enable users and telecommunications 
                        relay service communications assistants to 
                        control the activation and de-activation, and 
                        customize the display, of captions, video 
                        interpreters, and communications assistants 
                        independently from hosts of video conferencing 
                        sessions;
                            ``(v) provide a simplified user interface 
                        that is accessible to individuals with 
                        cognitive disabilities, including, if 
                        achievable, a simplified, secure modality for 
                        initiating and authenticating a video 
                        conferencing session; and
                            ``(vi) provide instructional materials for 
                        activating a video conferencing session with 
                        plain and simple language and iconography that 
                        is accessible to individuals with cognitive 
                        disabilities;
                    ``(C) adopt quality requirements for built-in 
                closed captioning functionality to facilitate effective 
                communication under subparagraph (B)(i); and
                    ``(D) adopt quality requirements for built-in 
                automated visual image descriptive functionality to 
                facilitate effective communication under subparagraph 
                (B)(ii).''.

SEC. 302. RELAY SERVICES.

    The Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), as amended 
by this Act, is amended--
            (1) in section 225 (47 U.S.C. 225)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) 
                        as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively;
                            (ii) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
                        following:
            ``(2) Communication facilitator.--The term `communication 
        facilitator' means a skilled user of American Sign Language who 
        is able to facilitate the ability of a DeafBlind person to 
        engage in transmission and other services described in this 
        section by conveying the information provided during the use of 
        those services to the DeafBlind person through close vision or 
        tactile American Sign Language.
            ``(3) Deaf interpreter.--The term `Deaf interpreter' means 
        an individual who--
                    ``(A) is deaf or hard of hearing;
                    ``(B) possesses native or near-native fluency in 
                American Sign Language; and
                    ``(C) has specialized training or experience to 
                assist in providing functionally equivalent sign 
                language interpretation for an individual using 
                American Sign Language in a situation that--
                            ``(i) requires linguistic or cultural 
                        mediation;
                            ``(ii) may be highly complex in nature; or
                            ``(iii) may involve individuals who face 
                        linguistic challenges, such as through atypical 
                        language use, language deprivation, or 
                        idiosyncratic signing styles.
            ``(4) Direct video calling service.--The term `direct video 
        calling service' means telephone customer support using one-to-
        one video communication that--
                    ``(A) is facilitated by a contact center 
                representative; and
                    ``(B) enables a real-time conversation to occur 
                directly between not fewer than 2 parties using 
                American Sign Language--
                            ``(i) not less than 1 of the parties to 
                        which is a governmental agency, business, non-
                        profit organization, emergency authority, or 
                        other enterprise; and
                            ``(ii) not less than 1 of the parties to 
                        which--
                                    ``(I) is deaf, hard of hearing, or 
                                DeafBlind; or
                                    ``(II) has a speech disability or 
                                auditory processing disorder.''; and
                            (iii) by striking paragraph (6), as so 
                        redesignated, and inserting the following:
            ``(6) Telecommunications relay services.--The term 
        `telecommunications relay services' means--
                    ``(A) transmission services that provide the 
                ability for an individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, 
                or DeafBlind, or who has a speech disability or an 
                auditory processing disorder, to engage in 
                communication by wire or radio with 1 or more 
                individuals, in a manner that is functionally 
                equivalent to (or, if technically feasible, equal to) 
                the ability of a hearing individual who does not have a 
                speech disability to communicate using voice 
                communication services or advanced communications 
                services by wire or radio; and
                    ``(B) other services facilitating functionally 
                equivalent communication by wire or radio for an 
                individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, 
                or who has a speech disability or an auditory 
                processing disorder, including the provision of 
                communication facilitators for an individual who is 
                DeafBlind and the provision of direct video calling 
                services for a call center to facilitate point-to-point 
                communication in American Sign Language between 
                government agencies, businesses, emergency authorities, 
                or other enterprises and users of American Sign 
                Language.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the 
                following:
            ``(4) American sign language access to emergency services; 
        communication facilitators; direct video calling services.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this paragraph, the Commission 
                shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to--
                            ``(i) define as eligible for relay service 
                        support from the fund described in section 
                        64.604(c)(5)(iii) of title 47, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations, as in effect on that date of 
                        enactment--
                                    ``(I) programs that are approved by 
                                the Commission to support direct video 
                                calling services;
                                    ``(II) programs that are approved 
                                by the Commission to support the 
                                provision of communication 
                                facilitators;
                                    ``(III) the expenses associated 
                                with the provision of a Deaf 
                                interpreter when necessary to provide 
                                functional equivalency for a party on a 
                                call using video relay service, as 
                                defined in section 64.601(a)(51) of 
                                title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, 
                                or any successor regulation;
                                    ``(IV) programs that are designed, 
                                in accordance with subparagraph (B), to 
                                improve access to emergency authorities 
                                by users of video relay services and 
                                direct video calling services to 
                                achieve the objectives described in 
                                clause (ii); and
                                    ``(V) expenses approved by the 
                                Commission to interconnect with video 
                                conferencing services;
                            ``(ii) achieve full, equal, and direct 
                        access to public safety answering points, as 
                        that term is defined in section 222(h), and 
                        other local emergency authorities, including 
                        emergency authorities responding to wireless 
                        calls made by dialing 9-1-1, by individuals 
                        who--
                                    ``(I) are deaf, hard of hearing, or 
                                DeafBlind, or who have a speech 
                                disability or a cognitive disability; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) use American Sign Language;
                            ``(iii) ensure that a person can have a 
                        single telephone number for the purpose of 
                        receiving calls and messages from other 
                        entities calling by means of video relay 
                        services or voice or electronic text messaging 
                        services; and
                            ``(iv) ensure that all telecommunications 
                        relay services can directly and natively 
                        interconnect with video conferencing services 
                        and the public switched telephone network.
                    ``(B) Contents.--The regulations described in 
                subparagraph (A)(i)(IV) shall, at a minimum, require 
                that users communicating by means of a video relay 
                service, as that term is defined in section 64.601 of 
                title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
                regulation, shall be capable of using native dialing or 
                1-step access on a mobile phone so that such 
                communication--
                            ``(i) includes the location information of 
                        the user, to be transmitted and delivered 
                        immediate and directly to the applicable 
                        emergency authority; and
                            ``(ii) is received by the applicable 
                        emergency authority with the same speed and 
                        efficiency as a voice call made by dialing 9-1-
                        1.
            ``(5) Reassessment of available services and minimum 
        standards.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment 
        of this paragraph, and once every 4 years thereafter, the 
        Commission shall, as necessary to respond to evolving 
        communication technologies, reassess and, as necessary, update 
        the regulations prescribed under this subsection to ensure that 
        those regulations effectively satisfy the communication needs 
        of individuals with disabilities who are covered by this Act, 
        including by--
                    ``(A) assessing the need for new modes of 
                telecommunications relay services;
                    ``(B) increasing and improving the mandatory 
                minimum standards to ensure the quality of 
                telecommunications relay services; and
                    ``(C) assessing the impact that evolving 
                communication technologies have on the privacy of users 
                of telecommunications relay services.''; and
            (2) by inserting after section 715 (47 U.S.C. 616) the 
        following:

``SEC. 715A. VIDEO CONFERENCING SERVICES' SUPPORT OF RELAY SERVICES.

    ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `TRS Fund' means the 
fund described in 64.604(c)(5)(iii) of title 47, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this section.
    ``(b) Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section, each provider of video conferencing services 
shall participate in, and contribute to, the TRS Fund in a manner 
prescribed by the Commission by regulation to provide for obligations 
of those providers that are consistent with, and comparable to, the 
obligations of other contributors to the TRS Fund.
    ``(c) Use of Amounts.--The Commission shall use contributions made 
under subsection (b) to carry out the program under subpart GG of part 
64 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date 
of enactment of this section.''.

SEC. 303. NATIONAL DEAFBLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.

    Section 719 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 620) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(a) Updated Regulations.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility 
Act of 2023, the Commission shall update the rules under section 64.610 
of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, 
to define as eligible for telecommunications relay service support 
those programs that are approved by the Commission for the distribution 
of specialized customer premises equipment and software designed to 
make telecommunications service, internet access service, and advanced 
communications, including interexchange services and advanced 
telecommunications and information services, accessible to individuals 
who are DeafBlind.
    ``(b) Definition.--In this section, the term `individual who is 
DeafBlind'--
            ``(1) has the meaning given the term `individual who is 
        deaf-blind' in section 206(2) of the Helen Keller National 
        Center Act (29 U.S.C. 1905(2)), as amended by the 
        Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992; and
            ``(2) includes an individual who--
                    ``(A) for the purposes of satisfying subparagraph 
                (A)(i) of such section 206(2), has been diagnosed with 
                a cortical or cerebral visual impairment;
                    ``(B) for the purposes of satisfying subparagraph 
                (A)(ii) of such section 206(2), has been diagnosed with 
                an auditory processing disorder; or
                    ``(C) for the purposes of satisfying subparagraphs 
                (A)(i) and (A)(ii) of such section 206(2), has been 
                diagnosed with both a cortical or cerebral visual 
                impairment and an auditory processing disorder.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``$10,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$20,000,000, which the Commission shall adjust 
        annually for inflation using an inflation factor determined by 
        the Commission''.

SEC. 304. ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Advanced communications services; video conferencing 
        service; visual image descriptive functionality; visual image 
        descriptive service.--The terms ``advanced communications 
        services'', ``video conferencing service'', ``visual image 
        descriptive functionality'', and ``visual image descriptive 
        service'' have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the 
        Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153), as amended by this 
        Act.
            (2) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee'' 
        means the Advanced Communications Services Advisory Committee 
        established under subsection (b).
            (3) Chair.--The term ``Chair'' means the Chair of the 
        Commission.
            (4) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
            (5) Telecommunications relay services.--The term 
        ``telecommunications relay services'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 225(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
        U.S.C. 225(a)), as amended by this Act.
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Chair shall establish an advisory committee 
to be known as the Advanced Communications Services Advisory Committee.
    (c) Membership.--As soon as practicable after the date on which the 
Chair establishes the Advisory Committee, the Chair shall appoint 
individuals who have the technical knowledge and engineering expertise 
to serve on the Advisory Committee in the fulfillment of the duties of 
the Advisory Committee, including the following:
            (1) Representatives of entities involved in the provision 
        of video conferencing services (or a national organization 
        representing such entities).
            (2) Representatives of vendors, developers, and 
        manufacturers of systems, facilities, equipment, and 
        capabilities for the provision of video conferencing services 
        (or a national organization representing such vendors, 
        developers, or manufacturers).
            (3) Representatives of vendors, developers, and 
        manufacturers of systems, facilities, equipment, and 
        capabilities for the provision of assistive technologies used 
        with video conferencing services (or a national organization 
        representing such vendors, developers, or manufacturers).
            (4) Representatives of manufacturers of consumer 
        electronics or information technology equipment engaged in the 
        provision of video conferencing services (or a national 
        organization representing such manufacturers).
            (5) Representatives of national organizations representing 
        accessibility advocates, including people with disabilities and 
        older Americans.
            (6) Representatives of service agencies engaged in the 
        provision of captioning, interpretation services, and visual 
        image descriptive services for video conferencing services.
            (7) Representatives of providers of telecommunications 
        relay services.
            (8) Academic experts or representatives of research 
        institutions with expertise regarding advanced communication 
        services.
            (9) Individuals with technical and engineering expertise, 
        as the Chair determines appropriate.
    (d) Commission Oversight.--The Chair shall appoint a member of the 
staff of the Commission to moderate and direct the work of the Advisory 
Committee.
    (e) Technical Staff.--The Chair shall appoint a member of the 
technical staff of the Commission to provide technical assistance to 
the Advisory Committee.
    (f) Development of Recommendations.--
            (1) Advanced communications services report.--Not later 
        than 1 year after the date on which the Advisory Committee 
        first meets, the Advisory Committee shall submit to the 
        Commission a report that, subject to paragraph (2), includes 
        the following:
                    (A) A recommended schedule of deadlines for--
                            (i) making video conferencing services and 
                        equipment accessible to individuals with 
                        disabilities; and
                            (ii) compliance with quality metrics and 
                        thresholds for automatic closed captioning and 
                        visual image descriptive functionality that is 
                        built into video conferencing services and 
                        equipment.
                    (B) An identification of the protocols, technical 
                capabilities, and technical procedures needed to--
                            (i) permit video conferencing services to 
                        include built-in closed captioning 
                        functionality; and
                            (ii) allow the interconnection of, and 
                        compatibility with, assistive technologies and 
                        services, peripheral devices, and specialized 
                        customer premises equipment commonly used by 
                        individuals with disabilities to achieve 
                        access.
                    (C) A recommendation for technical standards to 
                address the protocols, technical capabilities, and 
                technical procedures identified under subparagraph (B).
                    (D) A recommendation for standards to be used to 
                ensure that the quality of built-in closed captioning 
                functionality for video conferencing services 
                facilitates effective communication.
            (2) Consideration of work by standards-setting 
        organizations.--The recommendations of the Advisory Committee 
        contained in the report submitted under paragraph (1) shall, to 
        the extent possible, incorporate the standards, protocols, and 
        procedures that have been adopted by recognized industry 
        standard-setting organizations for each of the purposes 
        described in that paragraph.
    (g) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--The initial meeting of the Advisory 
        Committee shall take place not later than 45 days after the 
        date on which the Chair appoints the members of the Advisory 
        Committee under subsection (c).
            (2) Other meetings.--After the initial meeting of the 
        Advisory Committee under paragraph (1), the Advisory Committee 
        shall meet at the call of the Chair.
            (3) Notice; open meetings.--Each meeting held by the 
        Advisory Committee shall be--
                    (A) noticed not fewer than 14 days before the date 
                of that meeting; and
                    (B) open to the public.
    (h) Procedural Rules.--
            (1) Quorum.--The presence of \1/3\ of the members of the 
        Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting the 
        business of the Advisory Committee.
            (2) Subcommittees.--To assist the Advisory Committee in 
        carrying out the functions of the Advisory Committee, the Chair 
        may establish appropriate subcommittees composed of members of 
        the Advisory Committee and other subject matter experts.
            (3) Additional procedural rules.--The Advisory Committee 
        may adopt other procedural rules as needed.
    (i) Inapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to 
the Advisory Committee or the activities of the Advisory Committee.

SEC. 305. REAL-TIME TEXT.

    Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after section 716 (47 U.S.C. 617) the 
following:

``SEC. 716A. REAL-TIME TEXT.

    ``Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Commission shall revise the regulations of the Commission 
to require that all interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP 
services, whether delivered using wireless or wireline infrastructure, 
enable, so long as it is achievable (as defined in section 716)--
            ``(1) the delivery of real-time text with other wireless 
        and wireline VoIP services; and
            ``(2) connectivity of real-time text to public safety 
        answering points, as defined in section 222(h).''.

SEC. 306. ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES SOFTWARE.

    Section 716(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 617(e)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Revision of regulations.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Commission shall 
        update the regulations prescribed under this subsection to 
        require that all obligations applicable to equipment used for 
        advanced communications services extend to software used for 
        those services, without regard to whether that software is pre-
        installed on equipment used for those services.''.

                     TITLE IV--EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 401. EMERGING TECHNOLOGY.

    Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 723. EMERGING TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Augmentative and alternative communication.--The term 
        `augmentative and alternative communication' means any tool, 
        method, technology, strategy, service, training, coaching, or 
        other support used to supplement or replace speech.
            ``(2) Disability.--The term `disability' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities 
        Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
    ``(b) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this section, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
Commission shall, in consultation with the United States Access Board, 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives a report assessing--
            ``(1) the extent to which any accessibility barriers exist 
        for individuals with disabilities, including individuals who 
        are blind, deaf, or DeafBlind or have low vision, an auditory 
        processing disorder, a cortical or cerebral visual impairment, 
        a speech disability, including individuals who use augmentative 
        and alternative communication, a mobility disability, or a 
        cognitive disability, with respect to emerging communications 
        and video programming technologies and services, including 
        communication and video programming technologies that use 
        augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, dual 
        reality, spatial computing, artificial intelligence, and other 
        advanced machine learning, wireless technologies, including Wi-
        Fi and Bluetooth, robotics, the Internet of Things, and other 
        forms of advanced computing power; and
            ``(2) solutions needed to ensure that new or emerging 
        communications and video programming technologies and services 
        such as those described in paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) are accessible to individuals with 
                disabilities; and
                    ``(B) provide the necessary hardware and software 
                to achieve compatibility with peripheral devices or 
                specialized customer premises equipment commonly used 
                by individuals with disabilities to achieve access.
    ``(c) Consideration of Effect on Individuals With Particular 
Barriers.--In preparing each report required under subsection (b), the 
Commission shall consider the effect of emerging technologies on 
individuals with disabilities who use those technologies and have 
particular barriers to participation and communication with those 
technologies, including individuals with disabilities using those 
technologies--
            ``(1) who have limited language or limited English 
        language;
            ``(2) who have significant, targeted, or multiple 
        disabilities, including individuals who have a speech 
        disability, including individuals who use augmentative and 
        alternative communication, individuals who are DeafBlind, and 
        individuals who have mobility disabilities;
            ``(3) who have disabilities limiting communication;
            ``(4) who lack access to broadband services and technology; 
        or
            ``(5) who face heightened barriers due to race, ethnicity, 
        national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 
        Tribal affiliation, or socioeconomic status.
    ``(d) Regulations.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which 
the Commission submits each report required under subsection (b), the 
Commission shall issue new or update existing regulations for ensuring 
the accessibility of emerging communications and video programming 
technologies and services by individuals with disabilities where doing 
so is necessary to further the goals of the statutory provisions 
implemented by the regulations of the Commission under parts 6, 7, 14, 
and 79 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
regulation, intended to fulfill these goals.''.

                   TITLE V--ENFORCEMENT AND REPORTING

SEC. 501. ACCESSIBILITY ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Section 503(b)(5) of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 503(b)(5)) is amended by inserting after ``uses that 
tower'' the following: ``, or in the case of violations of this Act 
related to requirements of accessibility for individuals with 
disabilities, including violations of section 225, section 255, section 
276(b)(1)(A), subsections (u) through (aa) of section 303, section 
330(b), section 710, section 711, section 713, or sections 715 through 
719''.
    (b) Other Laws.--The violation of any provision of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), as amended by this 
Act, related to requirements of accessibility for individuals with 
disabilities, including a violation of section 225, section 255, 
section 276(b)(1)(A), subsections (u) through (aa) of section 303, 
section 330(b), section 710, section 711, section 713, or sections 715 
through 719 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 225, 255, 
276(b)(1)(A), 303, 330(b), 610, 611, 613, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620), 
shall not be used as a basis to preclude enforcement of violations of 
other State or Federal disability rights and civil rights laws, 
including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 
et seq.) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), 
stemming from the same conduct.

SEC. 502. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.), as amended by section 401 of this Act, is amended--
            (1) in section 717 (47 U.S.C. 618)--
                    (A) by striking subsection (b);
                    (B) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) 
                as subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively; and
                    (C) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``subsection (d)'' and inserting ``subsection 
                (c)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 724. ACCESSIBILITY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    ``Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
section, and every 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall submit to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives a report that includes the following:
            ``(1) The number and nature of complaints received pursuant 
        to subsection (u), (z), or (aa) of section 303, section 330(b), 
        section 713, and section 716(a) during the period covered by 
        the report.
            ``(2) A description of the actions taken to resolve the 
        complaints described in paragraph (1), including forfeiture 
        penalties assessed.
            ``(3) The length of time that was taken by the Commission 
        to resolve each such complaint.
            ``(4) The number, status, nature, and outcome of each 
        action for mandamus filed pursuant to section 717(a)(6) and the 
        number, status, nature, and outcome of each appeal filed 
        pursuant to section 402(b)(10).''.
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