The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has released the agenda for its May open meeting, scheduled for May 21, 2015. It contains the following items:
Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals: The Commission will consider an Order to extend the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to permanently extend the program. The program provides up to $10 million annually from the Interstate Telecommunications
Relay Service Fund to support programs that distribute communications equipment to low income individuals who are deaf-blind.
Accessible Emergency Information: The Commission will consider a Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to extend accessibility rules for emergency alerts to “second screens,” including tablets, smartphones, laptops, and similar devices. The proposal would take
additional steps to make emergency information in video programming accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 10:30 am, and will be shown online at www.fcc.gov/live.
