FCC Adopts Rules to Improve Access to Video Conferencing Services

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to ensure that people with disabilities can fully participate in video conferencing, including by paving the way for the use of telecommunications relay services (TRS). Building on the FCC’s 2023 Order making clear that video conferencing services must be accessible to people with disabilities under its rules, the FCC voted to enhance the accessibility standards for these online tools. New performance objectives include accurate and synchronous captioning; access to third-party captioning and sign language services; and users’ ability to adjust captions, video windows, and other features that are important for accessibility.