The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer Information Bureau will make a presentation on the FCC’s rules on this subject -- known as “emergency access rules”. These rules require that emergency information that is presented on television must be accessible to people with disabilities. The rule pertains to both people who are deaf or hard of hearing and to people with vision disabilities.

The FCC rule requires that emergency information that is provided orally on television must also be provided in a visual format so that people who are deaf or hard of hearing or with vision disabilities receive the same information as viewers without these disabilities. Emergency information is information that helps to protect life, health, safety, or property. This can include immediate weather situations like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, tidal waves, earthquakes, icing conditions, heavy snows, widespread fires, warnings and watches of impending changes in weather. It can also include other emergency situations (e.g., discharge of toxic gases, widespread power failures, explosions, civil disorders, etc.).

Familiarity with the rule is important for people involved in broadcasting and who deal with weather situations. The presentation will address:

What the rules say to broadcasters and programmers about access to emergency information in video programming Who is responsible Who the rule benefits What the FCC hears from consumers about this rule, and The emergency access rule and homeland security