Gaps Remain for Accessible Devices, Says FCC CVAA Report

Though telecom accessibility is improving, gaps remain, said the FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau in the biennial 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act report to Congress, in Wednesday’s Daily Digest. Low-end mobile phones with accessibility features are hard to find, a need for accessible alerts for video calls isn’t being met, and accessible telecom devices for the deaf-blind are lacking, CGB said. In 2016 and 2017, 24 consumer requests for dispute assistance were filed. “No consumer chose to escalate his or her RDA to an informal complaint for investigation by the Enforcement Bureau,” the report said. “Complaints received by the Bureau suggest that companies should remain aware that upgrades to their software may result in accessibility barriers if measures are not taken to test such upgrades for accessibility prior to deployment." Some aspects of telecom accessibility improved over the period, the report said. Cisco added accessibility features for wireline office phones, smartphones became more accessible for “people with a wide range of disabilities” and more hearing aid compatible headsets became available, it said.