Sector-specific accessibility laws

7 min read · BoK 3D· p. 59–60

Learning objectives (3)
  • Match each sector-specific law to its coverage area and jurisdiction
  • State the primary duty each law imposes on covered entities
  • Explain why ACAA 2017 is flagged as an unconfirmed item in the BoK

Why it matters

General anti-discrimination laws like the ADA and the Equality Act set broad obligations, but specific sectors — broadcasting, telecommunications, air travel, digital identity services — have their own targeted laws that translate general obligations into concrete technical requirements. CPACC candidates need to match each law to its sector and know the key duty it imposes. (BoK p. 59)

US sector-specific laws

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA, 2010)

The CVAA updated US communications accessibility law to address technologies that did not exist when earlier laws were passed. Its two main parts require:

  • Manufacturers and service providers of advanced communications services (internet-based voice, text, and video chat) to make their products accessible to people with disabilities. (BoK p. 59)
  • Video programming distributors (broadcasters, cable operators, and internet video) to provide closed captions on video content delivered over the internet if it was previously captioned on television, and to work toward making video programming guides and menus accessible.

Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)

The Air Carrier Access Act prohibits discrimination against passengers with disabilities by US and foreign air carriers operating in the United States. It requires accessible airport facilities, in-flight services, and boarding assistance for passengers with disabilities. (BoK p. 59)

EU sector-specific instruments

Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD, 2010/13/EU)

The AVMSD is an EU directive regulating television and on-demand video services. Its accessibility requirements oblige member states to ensure that audiovisual media services become progressively more accessible through captions, audio description, and sign language interpretation. The directive applies to broadcasters, video-on-demand platforms, and, following a 2018 revision, video-sharing platforms. (BoK p. 59)

European Electronic Communications Code (EECC, 2018/1972)

The EECC replaced earlier EU electronic communications frameworks. It includes explicit obligations for providers of electronic communications services (telephone, broadband, messaging) to offer accessible services and equivalent access for users with disabilities, including relay services and accessible billing. (BoK p. 60)

eIDAS Regulation

The eIDAS regulation governs electronic identification and trust services (electronic signatures, authentication, and qualified certificates) across the EU. It includes provisions requiring that public-facing electronic services using eIDAS-compliant systems be accessible to users with disabilities. (BoK p. 60)

Real-world example

A US streaming platform launches a library of archival news programmes that were broadcast on television with closed captions. Under the CVAA, when these previously captioned programmes are made available on-demand over the internet, they must retain their closed captions. The platform’s legal team identifies this obligation and ensures that their video delivery pipeline preserves the caption data from the original broadcast, rather than stripping it on ingest.

Key terms

CVAA 2010
The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act; updates US accessibility requirements for modern communication tech. (BoK p. 59)
Air Carrier Access Act
US federal law prohibiting disability discrimination by air carriers; requires accessible aircraft services and facilities. (BoK p. 59)
ACAA 2017
A bill introduced in the US Senate in 2017 to strengthen accessibility in air travel; the BoK cites it but it was not enacted. (BoK p. 59)
AVMSD 2010/13/EU
The EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive; requires member states to ensure media services progressively become accessible. (BoK p. 59)
EECC 2018/1972
The European Electronic Communications Code; includes accessibility obligations for electronic communications services. (BoK p. 60)
eIDAS
The EU regulation on electronic identification and trust services; includes accessibility requirements for public-facing electronic services. (BoK p. 60)

Check yourself

Question 1 of 3

The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA, 2010) updates US communications accessibility law. Which primary obligation does the CVAA impose on video programming distributed over the internet?

Sources

BoK references

External sources