Overview of Accessibility in Broadcasting: CRTC Requirements for accessibility in Canadian broadcasting Access 2020 Coalition Workshop Beverley Milligan 28 March 2011

The Broadcast Act Parliament’s objectives for the broadcasting policy in section 3(1) include accessibility, and state that (p) programming accessible by disabled persons should be provided within the Canadian broadcasting system as resources become available for the purpose;

CRTC Public Notice Broadcasting – Television Content Programming – Satellite Distribution – Cable Distribution

Descriptive Video Right now – Conventional broadcasters: 4 hours per week of described video programming, 50% of which must be original to the service – Specialty Services: 3 hours per week – Few exceptions, e.g. YTV and APTN with 2 hours per week requires all broadcasters, conventional or otherwise to caption 4 hours per week, effective their licence renewal. – Fifty % of the descriptions must be original to the service

Captioning 100% broadcast day – Broadcast day is 6 a.m. to midnight Future requirement to provide captions if available Currently no requirement – Advertising, sponsorship and promo’s by 4 year of licence term Quality issues

Regulated vs. Unregulated Television stations Cable companies Satellite companies Internet content Web sites Manufacturers of set- top boxes Accessible Content production industry

Broadcast Accessibility Fund 5.7 Million fund established as a result of the BCE/CTV acquisition Currently negotiating with BCE for control of the fund Goal is to work with BCE to bring to the CRTC an agreeable governance Key issues: – Control of the fund – Fund is open-ended so that our efforts can “top- up the fund” – Fund is used to achieve 100% access by 2020 through……..

What do we need to do? Technical Innovation Business Innovation Standards and best practices Monitoring and measurement Education