Urgent: Contact Klobuchar and Franken

Published 08-03-2010

Senator Klobuchar’s phone:1-888-224-9043

Senator Klobuchar’s Email

Senator Klobuchar’s fax: 202-228-2186

Senator Franken’s phone: (202) 224-5641

Senator Franken’s Email

Suggested language: “Please vote for H.R.3101, the 21st Century Communications and Technology Accessibility Act, instead of S.3304. The House passed H.R.3101 last week. It will ensure that people with disabilities are able to use the internet and new technology, while not causing an undue burden to business. Please vote for the substitute language when the bill comes up for a vote.”

If you email put the following on the subject line: Please Vote for H.R. 3101

What H.R. 3101 will do for us that S. 3304 does not:

Relay services.

• Establishes a Telecommunications Relay Services Policy Advisory Council.

• Requires the FCC to report to Congress about access to improved relay service technologies; and to suggest ways to facilitate use of relay services in the workplace, and update equipment in public places and government offices.

Access to internet-based services and equipment.

• Requires access to Internet services built-in to mobile telephone devices, like smart phones, if achievable.

Video description.

• After 4 years, permits the FCC to increase video description to 7 hours per week (up from 4 hours per week on top 4 broadcast networks and top 5 cable channels, in the top 25 most populated markets).

• After 6 years, requires the FCC to apply the video description requirements to all markets (not just the top 25 most populated markets).

• After 9 years, requires the FCC to report to Congress on the need for additional video description.

• After 10 years, permits the FCC to adopt recommendations reported to Congress to increase video description.

Closed captioning.

• Requires broadcast and cable networks to report to the FCC every 2 years on the amount of captioned television-like programs delivered only over the Internet.

• Requires the FCC to report and recommend to Congress about requiring captions on television-like programs that are shown only on the Internet.

• For a summary of what the entire bill will do, use this link

Thank you!!!!