FCC Adopts Accessibility Order

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted an order that would give broadcasters two years to translate emergency crawls into audio for the blind and sight-impaired, and for cable operators to pass those along to their viewers as well. Some in the industry had sought a three-year phase-in, while accessibility advocates had wanted a year. The FCC split the difference. The FCC did not apply the mandate to over-the-top providers or TV Everywhere delivery of video content, but did issue a Notice of Further Proposed Rulemaking asking whether it should do so.