Communications Laws Quick Reference

CVAA Title I — Communications Access

Legislation Section	USC Reference	Rulemaking Activities	Regulation Reference	Effective Dates
Sec. 101. Definitions.	47 USC 153 – Definitions	There are no rulemaking activities directly associated rulemaking with this section.	N/A	Current
Sec. 102. Hearing aid compatibility.	47 USC 610 (b), (c), (e), (h) – Telephone service for disabled	This section did not trigger any specific rulemaking activities, per se; it simply extended the scope of already existing hearing aid compatibility requirements to ACS phone like peripherals and clarified the scope of the current law.	47 CFR 68.316	Current
Sec. 103. Relay services.	47 USC 225(a)(3) – Telecommunications services for hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals 47 USC 616 – Internet protocol-based relay services	Report and Order ( FCC 11-150) was released and adopted on October 7, 2011 and implemented Section 103(b) of the Act, which requires non-interconnected VOIP provides to contribute to the Telecommunications Relay Services Fund (TRS).Note that under Section 255 of the act carriers and providers of interconnected VoIP services are already required to make contributions to the fund. This report and order extends that obligation to providers of non-interconnected VOIP services.	47 CFR 64	Current
Sec. 104. Access to advanced communications services and equipment.	47 USC 617 – Access to advanced communications services and equipment 47 USC 618 – Enforcement and recordkeeping obligations 47 USC 619 – Internet browsers built into telephones used with public mobile services	Report and Order ( FCC 11-151) on the CVAA was adopted and released on October 7, 2011 and implements section 104 of the Act, which updates Sections 716 and 717 of the Communications Act.As part of the Report and Order, the FCC also included a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) seeking comment on a variety of open issues relating to the act. This included method for implementation of Section 718 of the Act. The comment period for the FNPRM portion of this closed on March 14, 2012. As part of the CVAA, Section 718 must be put into effect by October 7, 2013 which would imply the rules for the implementation of Section 718 will be issued this year.	47 CFR 1.80, 47 CFR 6.15, 16, 47 CFR 14	Current. A certification of these record keeping activities must be filed with the FCC no later than April 1st, of each year.
Sec. 105. Universal service.	47 USC 620 – Relay services for deaf-blind individuals	Report and Order ( FCC 11-56) adopted on April 4, 2011 and implements Section 105 of the Act, which adds Sec. 719 to Title VII of the Communications Act	47 CFR 64	Current
Sec. 106. Emergency Access Advisory Committee.	47 USC § 615c – Establishes the FCC’s Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC)	The EAAC provides advice and guidance to the FCC on ensuring equal access to emergency services by individuals with disabilities in the context of a national, Internet protocol-enabled emergency network. While the committee does not directly develop rules per se they are directed to provide recommendations to the FCC on the needs of people with disabilities in accessing emergency services in IP environments. The Emergency Access Committee published this set of report and recommendations on January 26, 2012.	N/A	Current

CVAA Title II — Video Access

Legislation Section	USC Reference	Rulemaking Activities	Regulation Reference	Effective Dates
Sec. 201. Video Programming and Emergency Access Advisory Committee.	47 USC 613– Established the Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee (VPAAC)	As with the EEAC, the committee does not directly develop rules but instead was convened to provide advice and guidance to the FCC on the needs of people with disabilities in accessing video programming.	N/A	Current
Sec. 202. Video description and closed captioning.	47 USC 613– Amendments to sections (c),(f) and (g).	Report and Order ( FCC 11-126) was adopted on August 24, 2011 and implements paragraph (a) of Sec. 202 of the Act;Report and Order ( FFC 12 – 9) was adopted on January 12, 2012 and implements paragraph (b) of Section 202 of the Act and Section 203 of the act.	47 CFR 79.4 47 CFR 79.3	Current
Sec. 203. Closed captioning decoder and video description capability.	47 USC 303(b),(u),(z)	Report and Order ( FCC 12–9) was adopted on January 12, 2012 and implements paragraph (b) of Section 202 of the Act and Section 203 of the act.Emergency information requirements for the closed captioning decoder and video description capability of devices are currently in Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Status (NPRM).	47 CFR 79.101 – 105	Current
Sec. 204. User interfaces on digital apparatus.	47 USC 303(aa)	Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( FCC 13-138) was adopted on October 29, 2013. The rules under Section 204 and 205 essentially require that (i) covered devices be accessible to and usable by individuals who are blind or visually impaired and (ii) there be a simple means of activating the accessibility features of the devices.	47 CFR 107, 108 & 109	December, 2016
Sec. 205. Access to video programming guides and menus provided on navigation devices	47 USC 303(bb)	Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( FCC 13-138) was adopted on October 29, 2013.	47 CFR 107, 108 & 109	December, 2016
Sec. 206. Definitions.	N/A	N/A	N/A	Current

Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act

Legislation Section	USC Reference	Rulemaking Activities	Regulation Reference	Effective Dates
Telecommunications Act of 1996	47 USC 255	Report and Order FCC 99-181Report and Order FCC 07-110	47 CFR 6 47 CFR 7	Current

Report and Order 99-181 covers the initial implementation of Section 255 while Report and Order 07-110 extended the
Section 255 requirements to VOIP equipment. These regulations are, in turn, implemented in 47 CFR 6 and 47 CFR 7.

47 CFR 6 and 7 are based on guidelines for telecommunications equipment developed by the Access Board and enshrined
under 36 CFR 1193. Section 255 (e) directs the Access Board to develop and periodically update guidelines for the
implementation of accessible telecommunications. These requirements, in addition to community and other input, were then
used as the basis for developing the final content of Report and Order 99-181 which, in turn, issued the final
regulations found in 47 CFR 6 and 47 CFR 7. The final regulations are materially the same as the Access Board regulations
with minor changes and requirements adopted here and there to allow for the enforcement and implementation of the
requirements.

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