National Association of the Deaf

Submitted by Leah Katz-Hernandez on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 17:42

Hi, my name is Leah Katz-Hernandez. I am excited to announce a national virtual NAD legislative day on Thursday, April 15, in support of the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009 (H.R. 3101). This new law, when passed, will benefit our community. For example:

• Require all captioned TV programs on the Internet to be shown with captions

As many of you know, the Internet has lots of TV programs that are not captioned. We are all very frustrated about this.  It is time to step up and say enough!

• Closed captioned (CC) buttons must be on TV remote controls

It is so hard to find the captioning feature on so many TVs today. This legislation would put the CC button on the remote! Also CC would be on the TV’s first level menu options, so you can make changes easily to the caption color, size, etc. Cool!

• Any device, even devices smaller than 13 inches, that shows TV must be able to display captions

This means that DVRs, mobile TVs, and yes, even my pager will be able to display captions!

• The federal government’s Universal Service programs for communication will help low income people pay for broadband service and will provide special communication access equipment for people who are deaf-blind.

This bill will bring our community closer to equal access to new technology that our hearing peers enjoy. It will also provide access for the blind community.  Both communities need access and should not be left behind!

Please support this important legislation. The NAD and other advocacy groups are working hard to get this bill – H.R. 3101 – passed by the House of Representatives. In addition, we are trying to get this bill introduced in the Senate.

How can you help the NAD on this virtual legislative day?

Plan now to set aside time during the day on April 15th to call and/or write to your Representative. If you planned to take a lunch break or chat a little longer at the water cooler, save this time and contribute towards a greater cause by taking action that day! The NAD Board of Directors will be in Washington, DC, meeting with key Representatives to advocate for this important legislation. Your calls, letters, faxes, and emails will help our efforts to push for the passage of this bill.

We have provided links in the blog (see below) on the NAD website to help you contact your Representative, along with a sample message. After you contact your Representative, please contact the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet.  His name is Rick Boucher. His contact information is also provided in the blog.

I used to work on Capitol Hill for an elected Representative and I can tell you that it is always powerful to hear from people in their communities. You really have an impact on legislation. Let’s work together as a team and take action! Thanks for your support and for the NAD!

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To find contact information for your Representative, go to your Representative’s webpage at www.house.gov. Or go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml. Type your zip code and 4-digit zip code extension in the boxes to find your Representative’s webpage.
 
Check the list of co-sponsors for H.R. 3101.

• If your Representative is a co-sponsor of H.R.3101, tell your Representative:  “Thank you for being a co-sponsor of H.R. 3101, the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009.”
   
• If your Representative is not a co-sponsor of H.R. 3101, call or send a letter/fax/email asking your Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 3101, the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009.

Sample Message:

Subject:  Please Co-Sponsor H.R. 3101

Dear Representative [Last Name]:

I want to participate in the revolutionary way that Americans interact, learn, work, and do business using new digital communication devices, broadband, and the Internet.  To be effective, these new technologies must be available, affordable, and accessible to everyone, including people like me who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, or deaf-blind. The “Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009” (H.R. 3101) will amend the Communications Act to ensure that all Americans have equal access to these exciting and innovative new technologies. 

H.R. 3101 is important to me because...  [Personalize your letter. Tell your Representative why H.R. 3101 is important to you.]

H.R. 3101 is supported by AT&T, Verizon, the Federal Communications Commission National Broadband Plan, and others.  For more information about H.R. 3101, please visit www.COATaccess.org.

Please co-sponsor H.R. 3101.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]

After you contact your Representative, please contact Rick Boucher who we need to move the bill in subcommittee:

Rick Boucher
Chairman, Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
2187 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20515

Phone:  202-225-3861
Fax:  202-225-0442
E-mail: https://forms.house.gov/boucher/webforms/contact.html