508 Laws

508 Laws

508 Website: http://www.section508.gov

FCC: www.fcc.gov

Section 508 is the 1998 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act. It requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

Other Multimedia products that fall under these laws include: DVD, DC-ROM and streaming video.
To meet the mandate, all government agencies must have their videos and other multimedia closed or open-captioned for hearing impaired as well as audio described for visually impaired people.

TELECOMMUNICAITON ACT OF 1996

English Language Captioning Regulations
New programming* requirements for program distributors is measured on a quarterly basis and must meet the minimums:

Effective January 1, 2006, 100% of distributor’s new programming must be captioned.
Pre-rule programming** requirements for program distributors is measured on a quarterly basis and must meet the minimums:

Effective January 1, 2003, 30% of all pre-rule programming must be captioned.

Effective January 1, 2012, 75% of all pre-rule programming must be captioned.

Spanish Language Captioning Regulations
New programming*** requirements for program distributors is measured on a quarterly basis and must meet the minimums:

Effective January 1, 2004, 900 hours per quarter
Effective January 1, 2007, 1,350 hours per quarter
Effective January 1, 2010, 100% of programming

Pre-rule programming† requirements for program distributors is measured on a quarterly basis and must meet the minimums:

Effective January 1, 2005, 30% of programming must be captioned.
Effective January 1, 2012, 75% of programming must be captioned.

TELEVISION DECODER CIRCUITRY ACT OF 1990
All televisions, 13 inches and larger, manufactured after 1993 are required to have a built-in decoder.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
The 1990 law mandates that all educational and instructional videotapes be accessible to the hearing impaired and deaf population. Organizations must provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to allow an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of a service, program or activity conducted by a public entity. The ADA applies to state and local governments as well as public and some private organizations.

*New programming is defined as a program presented on the network on or after January 1, 1998. For DTV programs, the cutoff date is July 1, 2002.

**New programming is defined as a program produced and exhibited on or after January 1, 1998. For DTV programs, prior to 2002.

***New programming is defined as a program presented on the network on or after January 1, 1998.

†Pre-rule programming is defined as programs produced and exhibited before January 1, 1998.