This is the Caption Action 2 newsletter for September 2010. FINAL ACTIONS IN CONGRESS This month should bring a final vote by the House on the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. The House is expected to pass S 3304, which passed the Senate in August. As you know, S 3304 Read More
Author Archive
Caption Action 2 Newsletter: September 2010
September 4th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Come On, Google, Do The Right Thing!
August 28th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Google has jumped into the web series biz, producing its own web series, Google Beat. Google Beat is about search engine term popularity, and has a human host. Google Beat is on YouTube of course – but they are using the inaccurate automatic captioning. (For instance, in the picture below, Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Runic Films Willing to Caption, But…
August 21st, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Yesterday, Caption Action 2 contacted the producers of a children’s web series, eScape. The premise of eScape is given in a press release: “eScape tells the story of a group of campers seemingly abandoned by their counselors. They soon discover they are trapped within a video Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Revision3 Pledges to Caption All of its Web Series!
August 18th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
One of the many web series producers Caption Action 2 contacted about captioning their web series, was Revision3.com. (Memory refresher: the HR 3101 and S 3304 bills do not require original web television programming to be captioned). Revision3.com is a website that produces and broadcasts only Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Industry Wins. Deaf Pay the Price.
August 12th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
How high a price are we paying for Congress not requiring original web television programming to have closed captions? The price is already high, and getting higher by the day! Caption Action 2 is still learning just how high that price is. Professionally produced web television is exploding on Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
We’ve Won. And We’ve Lost.
August 5th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
We’ve won… We’ve kind of won. The hard work of the National Association of the Deaf and the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology has resulted in the Senate modifying S 3304 so it is more like HR 3101! So now the big push is on to get the Senate to pass S 3304! Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Caption Action 2: August 2010 Newsletter
August 1st, 2010 by Caption Action 2
This is the Caption Action 2 newsletter for August 2010! HOUSE VOTE! On July 26, 2010, in keeping with the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the House of Representatives voted and passed HR 3101, 348 to 23! Happily, the version of HR 3101 that passed the House also restored Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
HR 3101 Will Pass – Next Stop: Senate!
July 26th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
In a voice vote earlier today, the House passes HR 3101 by voice vote, and is expected to pass it tonight. Amy Cohen Efron posted about it, HR3101 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY!, on her blog. Next stop is the Senate. What does this mean for Caption Action 2 when the Senate passes the bill also? Simply put, Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Next Stop For HR 3101 – Full House Floor!
July 21st, 2010 by Caption Action 2
This morning, HR 3101 went through its second markup. It was a great day for everyone, especially the deaf-blind. Here’s what happened; - the $10 million deaf-blind provision was restored- Rep. Baldwin suggests addition of adding captioning to Public, Educational, and Government Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Second HR 3101 Markup 7/21 At 10am!
July 20th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
HR 3101 will have its second markup tomorrow morning (June 21) in Rayburn Room 2123 at 10 AM. Keep an eye on this blog and on COAT’s website for more: COAT Looks Forward to House Energy & Commerce Committee Markup of H.R. 3101 Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Yet Another Step Forward for Equal Access!
July 15th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Earlier today, S 3304 had a markup together with three other bills and nominations. They recommended that it be moved to the Senate floor for a vote. Caption Action 2 does not know yet what the fate of the deaf-blind provision was, but, according to the National Journal, “The panel Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
From $10 Million to Zero…for Deaf-Blind People!
July 1st, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Today the National Association of the Deaf posted about the markup of HR 3101. One sentence caught our eye: For example, advocacy efforts will be needed to recover the section in H.R. 3101 which provided funding for specialized communications equipment needed by people who are deaf-blind, such Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
HR3101 Forwarded to Full Committee!
June 30th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Caption Action 2 just watched the webcast of HR3101’s markup. There were some amendments proposed and it has been forwarded to the full committee. Subcommittee Markup of H.R. 3101, the “Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009 The page also has the video Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Moving Forward! Markup Time!
June 29th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Today the news came in the afternoon: HR 3101 has a markup session tomorrow (June 30, 2010) at 2:00 pm in the House subcommittee! Like the hearing, it is going to be streamed live online with captions. Caption Action 2 will not be attending, but the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Caption Action 2 Is One Year Old!
June 26th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Caption Action 2 just turned a year old! But, we don’t want to grow up! Starting with just one member early in the morning of June 25, 2009, we have grown to over 14,000 deaf and blind people, family, and friends. What a year it has been! In one year: * Support for HR 3101 (also a year old Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Operation PAH Also Means…?
June 24th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Operation PAH can also stand for Parents, Associates (friends) and Hearing allies. This suggestion comes courtesy of our friends at the National Association of the Deaf. Many if not most of you have already contacted Congress, but what about your families and friends (both hearing and deaf)? It Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
New York Times! And Operation PAH Begins!
June 21st, 2010 by Caption Action 2
NEW YORK TIMES! Today, one of the “big boys” in mainstream media took notice of the need for more captions on the Internet: The New York Times! In his article, “On Web Video, Captions Are Coming Slowly,” reporter Brian Stelter turned the spotlight on the current state of Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Advisory Shmisory. Shapiro Can Stuff the Advice!
June 18th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
In both Gary Shapiro’s written testimony for the HR 3101 hearing and his Washington Times editorial, Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association, pushed the inane idea of an advisory committee: From the written testimony: As an alternative, CEA has proposed the Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Sorry Shapiro, Voluntary Doesn’t Work!
June 15th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Perhaps Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association, who fervently believes voluntary actions are enough, would like to answer the following questions… Why is it, Mr. Shapiro, that after Congress passed the television decoder circuitry act, we did not get a substantial Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Boucher a Victim of Misinformation?
June 13th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Politicians do not write their own speeches. Thus, Representative Rick Boucher, chairperson of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, may have been a victim of misinformation provided by his scriptwriter. During his introduction to the HR 3101 hearing, Boucher Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
HR 3101 Gets Cosponsor 52!
June 11th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
52 The dust hasn’t quite settled from yesterday’s flurry of two new cosponsor announcements. We’ve got our 52nd cosponsor! Emerging from the dust comes New York Representative Yvette Clark (D-11). Democrats – 50, Republicans – 2 We’re on a roll! Keep Read More
Posted in Advocacy, Deaf, Hearing Loss |
Shapiro’s Words Belong Where the Sun Don’t Shine
June 10th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Today at the HR 3101 hearing, the speaker most opposed to the bill was Gary Shapiro (gshapiro@CE.org), the president of the Consumer Electronics Association. Most of the media coverage focused on Shapiro. Although speakers Sergeant Jesse Acosta (American Council of the Blind) and Lise Hamlin Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Oops! No, It is Now 51 Cosponsors!
June 10th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
51 Turns out that Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA) also just signed on to HR 3101! Since her name has already been added to the bill while Representative Matsui’s is still awaiting addition (Matsui announced her support via a press release that was distributed at today’s HR 3101 Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
We Got Our 50th Cosponsor!
June 10th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
50 That’s how many cosponsors we now have! Caption Action 2 just got the exciting news today! We just had our FIFTIETH, count them, 50th, HR 3101 cosponsor! It’s none other than Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA-5), member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
SPECIAL BULLETIN: HR 3101 HEARING!
June 4th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
A GIANT STEP FORWARD IS TAKING PLACE! On Thursday, June 10, 2010 there will be a hearing in the House on HR 3101, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act! Time: 10:00 amPlace: 2123 Rayburn House Office BuildingOnline live video captioning: Yes! We do not have the exact URL Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Caption Action 2: June 2010 Newsletter
June 3rd, 2010 by Caption Action 2
This is the Caption Action 2 newsletter for June 2010. We have so much this month we hardly know where to begin! For starters, Caption Action 2 is one year old this month! We began early in the morning of June 25, 2009. So is HR 3101, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
HR 3101 Gets Two More Cosponsors!
May 26th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Earlier today, Caption Action 2 found that two more HR 3101 cosponsors joined the listing. Let us welcome Representatives Gerald Connolly (VA-11) (our own representative!) and Nita Lowey (NY-18). Both Reps are Democrats. Democrats – 47, Republicans – 2 Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Major Milestone: Senate Hearing!
May 22nd, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Less than a month after it was introduced, S 3304, the Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act, is getting a hearing in the Senate! The hearing will be held Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 2:30 pm in the Russell Building, room 253. Why are we getting a hearing so soon when it has been almost a Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Is Your Cable Company Preventing Our Success?
May 19th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Is your cable company resisting HR 3101 and S 3304? Maybe, if what Caption Action 2 was told by Senator Bill Nelson’s office is any indication! When CA 2 told Nelson’s office (Clint Odom) that we are seeking cosponsors for S 3304, the Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act, Read More
Posted in Hearing Loss |
Adapt Shmapt. Here’s a Comeback!
May 14th, 2010 by Caption Action 2
Someone forwarded us a copy of a response they received from their Senator’s office after writing her to ask for cosponsorship of S 3304, the Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act. This is what Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office wrote: Thank you for contacting me about the Equal Read More
