ACCESSIBILITY TO BROADCASTING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS:

THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE

Martine Vallee Director

Social & Consumer Policy

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commmission

INDEPENDENT

PUBLIC

TRIBUNAL

Regulate

Supervise

BROADCASTING &

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CRTC)

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CRTC MANDATE

ENSURE BROADCASTING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST

KEY OBJECTIVES SET OUT IN

LEGISLATION

Economic

Social Cultural

Accessibility:

addressed in Broadcasting &

Telecommunications Legislation

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Participation in Society

Social Integration

Employment

Access to Information

Public Safety

WHY IS ACCESSIBILITY TO COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES IMPORTANT?

BROADCASTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Canadians with disabilities should be able to receive, and see themselves, in broadcast programming

Canadians with disabilities should have same ability to as other users of telephone to communicate

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ACCESSIBILITY FRAMEWORK

Based On Human Rights

Principles

EQUALITY

Balance Needs With Other Objectives

Concept of Reasonable

Accommodation

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ACCESSIBILITY POLICY TOOLKIT

Regulations / Obligations

Expectations / Encouragements

Co-Regulation – Industry/Community developed solutions

Consultations

Mediation

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CLOSED CAPTIONING

POLICY

All programming

(English & French)

Closed captioning

quality standards

Monitoring systems

Advertising, sponsorship messages,

promos

BROADCASTING

e.g. accuracy rate, format, lag time

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BROADCASTING

BROADCASTERS

•AD all key elements of Canadian information programs

•4 hours of DV per week (2 hours original DV)

•Maintain spending on DV

•Present DV logo & audio announcement

•Provide information on DV programs

•The Accessible Channel

BROADCASTING DISTRIBUTORS

(CABLE & SATELLITE)

•Pass through all DV signals

• Simple means to access DV signal

DESCRIBED VIDEO WORKING GROUP

•Promote awareness of DV (PSA, online DV guide)

• Solutions to technical issues

DESCRIBED VIDEO & AUDIO DESCRIPTION POLICY

DESCRIBED VIDEO (DV)

description of progam’s key visual elements

(e.g. settings, costumes, body language)

drama, documentary, children’s

AUDIO DESCRIPTION (AD)

reading aloud of textual and graphic

information displayed on screen

news, information programs 8

BROADCASTING REPRESENTATION & PORTRAYAL

FAIR & EQUITABLE PORTRAYAL OF PERSONS WITH DISABILTIES

Corporate Plans

Annual Progress Reports

Equitable Portrayal

Code

corporate initiatives

community outreach

programming

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS

RELAY SERVICES

Cost of TTY and IP Relay funded by all telephone subscribers

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Teletypewriter (TTY)

Relay Service

required since 1985

Internet Protocol (IP)

Relay Service

required since 2010

TEXT BASED RELAY SERVICES

TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES

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SIGN LANGUAGE BASED RELAY SERVICES – VIDEO RELAY SERVICE (VRS)

Assessment of feasibility of VRS (costs, projected use, size of markets):

• VRS trials in 3 Canadian cities (Telus Communications Co.)

• VRS feasibility study (Bell Canada)

CRTC will decide whether to hold a proceeding on VRS in 2012

Challenges:

high cost

two language markets (ASL & LSQ) Key priority for persons who

communicate via sign language

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS MOBILE WIRELESS SERVICES

Evolution and popularity of wireless communications & applications

1980’s

2012

mobile wireless handsets have become increasingly important as wireless communications needs continue to expand and wireless mobile devices become the preferred web access device for many - what many would call a necessity of modern life

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS MOBILE WIRELESS SERVICES

Persons who are blind

Persons who have

moderate to severe

mobility impairments

Persons who have

moderate to severe

cognitive impairments

Canadian wireless service providers should offer at least one type of wireless device that is accessible to:

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS MOBILE WIRELESS SERVICES

SUC

ESSE

S

• Accessible devices for persons with low vision

• Increased awareness of, and activities to address, the needs and solutions for persons with disabilities

GA

PS

• Lack of integrated supported out-of-the-box solutions

• people who are blind

• persons with severe mobility or cognitive impairments

• Gaps in customer service

SOLU

TIO

NS

• Industry-wide consultations with persons with disabilities to understand user profiles and requirements

• Coordination among all participants in the supply chain

• Work with other jurisdictions

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS & BROADCASTING CUSTOMER SERVICE & INFORMATION

CRITICAL TO ASSIST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN MAKING INFORMED CHOICES

Accessible information on

disability-specific services & products

Bills and information on rates, terms and conditions of phone service in alternative

formats *

Accessible call centres

Free Directory Assistance for persons with disabilities

Accessible websites with general

information on services and products

• Braille

• large print

• electronic version

*

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