The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued two advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on movie captioning and video description and next generation 9-1-1. 

 

The Captioning and Video Description in Movies shown in Movies Theaters are not generally made available from movie studios who produce and distribute movies with captioning and video description.  The DOJ asked for suggestions regarding the kind of accessibility requirements for captioning and video description it should consider as proposed rules for public comments, particularly in light of the industry's conversion to digital technology.  The DOJ is considering requiring closed captioning and video description and making open captioning as an option but not a requirement, as stated in the ANPRM. 

 

The Next Generation (NG) 9-1-1 centers are moving towards an Internet-enabled network to allow the general public to make a 9-1-1 "call" via voice, text, or video over the Internet and directly communicate with personnel at the centers.  The NG 9-1-1 ANPRM seeks information on how the centers may be able to provide direct access to 9-1-1 for individuals with disabilities as they implement new communication technologies.

 

The DCAB submitted two letters to the DOJ with recommendations.  For a copy of the letters, please contact Kristine Pagano by email, kristine.pagano@doh.hawaii.gov or phone/VP (808) 447-1397.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010.  The DCAB endorsed the video description provision in the rules to exempt live and near live broadcasts.  Regarding the Television Equipment, the DCAB recommended expanding the current requirement in the law that requires controls to captioning and video description programs be accessible to making all navigational controls relating to television equipment accessible to persons with disabilities via tactile or audio feed instructions.  The DCAB submitted the comments to FCC.

The Disability and Communication Access Board will hold a public hearing to receive testimony on the proposed amendments and compilation of existing rules, chapter 11-218, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), entitled "Communication Access Services for Persons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind."

 

The proposed amendments include changes to amend the Recommended Fee Schedule for Interpreters that is attached as an appendix to chapter 11-218, HAR.  The proposed rules will also establish a continuing education program for sign language interpreters who receive the Hawaii Quality Assurance System (HQAS) credential and increase the HQAS test fee from $200 to $300, in increments of $50 over a two (2) year period, to begin after the effective date of the rules.

 

The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 17 at 9:00 a.m. at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Queen Liliuokalani Center for Student Services, 2600 Campus Road, Ground Floor, Room 102 in Honolulu, Hawaii.  A copy of the proposed amendments is available for review on the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) website at,  http://www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab 

or can be mailed to any interested person who requests a copy from the DCAB.

 

Written testimony can be sent to the DCAB at 919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 101, Honolulu, HI  96814 until May 17, 2011.  For more information, please contact Kristine Pagano by phone/VP at (808) 447-1397 or email, kristine.pagano@doh.hawaii.gov.  

The Hawaii Quality Assurance System (HQAS) was established in 2000 and offers sign language interpreters who do not hold national certification an opportunity to obtain credentials valid within and recognized by the State of Hawaii. 

The Disability and Communication Access Board congratulates the following sign language interpreters who recently passed the HQAS.

Diane McIntosh, Level IV

Two or more candidates who live on the neighbor islands may take the HQAS or HQAS+H test on their respective island.  For more information, please contact Kristine Pagano, Communication Access Specialist, by phone/VP at (808) 447-1397 or email, kristine.pagano@doh.hawaii.gov.