All About the CVTA
and What You Can DO
True Access Begins with CVTA
The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA), first introduced in 2023, is being reintroduced in the current Congress. CSD is supporting the effort alongside the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) Committee, who are working hard meeting with key representatives to get the bill passed.
But to truly make a difference, your U.S. congressperson still needs your comments to show support for the bill.
Do you want:
TV Stations to keep ASL interpreters visible on screen when the interpreters are already provided?
So that you can clearly see the interpreter – for example at press conferences about emergencies?
Captioning on streaming media and online videos?
So that you can understand what people are saying on all the streaming platforms and online networks where you watch your favorite shows?
Direct Video Calling for
911?
So that you can call emergency services in ASL and connect with an operator who signs back? No relay interpreters. Just direct one-on-one help when every second counts.
If these improvements are all important to you,
then now is the time to contact your congressperson.
Here’s how:
First:
Find your congressperson’s contact information by
entering your ZIP code here.
Second:
Click on the icon under the congressperson’s picture.
Their website will show different ways to contact them on top of the page.
Their website will show different ways to contact them on top of the page.
Third:
Choose one or more of the options below:
First:
Find your state legislator(s) contact information by entering your address and zip code below:
Find Your U.S. House Representative
Enter your full street address and ZIP code for a match closest to you.
Second:
Click on the an option to call, email or visit their website.
Third:
Choose one or more of the options below of our templates to send them a message:
Send a DM.
Your message can be simple, like:
“Hi, I’m Deaf and live in your district. I support the CVTA because having access to captions on online video programs, 911 direct video calling, and being able to see interpreters clearly when they are provided on TV matters to me and everyone. Please support the CVTA."
“Hi, I’m Deaf and live in your district. I support the CVTA because having access to captions on online video programs, 911 direct video calling, and being able to see interpreters clearly when they are provided on TV matters to me and everyone. Please support the CVTA."
Give them a call.
You can leave a voicemail with the same message you’d use in a DM.
Email them.
You can type your own email, or follow the same message you’d use in a DM, phone call, or use these templates:
Mail a letter.
Write your own letter, or follow the same message you’d use in a DM, phone call, or email. Use the congressperson’s Washington, D.C. office address, or the district office address.
Tip: Include your full return address so the office knows you live in their district.
Tip: Include your full return address so the office knows you live in their district.
Common Questions
But wait, we already have CVAA from 2010.
Why do we need another law?
The CVAA in 2010 was a major success for its time. We got improvements in captioning, relay service, some emergency access, but fast forward to today, we have:
- Video streaming
- Video calling
- Nonstop news feeds
- New apps and platforms every year
The CVAA can’t keep up because it was written before these technologies appeared. The CVTA bill will update these old laws so that access for the Deaf community is always there, not left behind.
Great! What else can I do?
Talk about it. Raise awareness about the bill and its importance to your friends, family, colleagues, and on social media. The CVTA improvements will benefit them too. Encourage others to contact their congressperson -- this is the most important action to take. Have others contact their congressperson to support the CVTA by co-sponsoring and voting for it. Share this page with them so they can use the templates too.
Why does CVTA matter to CSD?
CSD has always been about making sure Deaf and Hard of Hearing people have interpreting, captioning, and information access to spoken content. Because of that, the CVTA bill fits CSD’s mission nicely. The more access the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people have, the happier CSD is.
More Resources
Still want to learn more about the CVTA bill?
Get all the details.
Coalition for Accessible Technology
Learn more about the broader advocacy effort and coalition partners.
Learn MoreCSD Blog (2023)
Understanding the Communication, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act when it was first introduced in 2023
Read the Post