FCC Finally Determines Scope Of "Interoperable Video Conferencing Services" Under The CVAA, Seeks Comment On Accessibility Performance Objectives

Driven by the central role that video conferencing services took on for millions of people during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to have today, on June 12, 2023 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released a Report and Order (Order) concluding that federal accessibility obligations under the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) apply broadly to "services provided on a variety of commonly used video conferencing platforms." In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) accompanying the Order, the Commission seeks comment on adding specific accessibility performance objectives to its existing Part 14 rules to address interoperable video conferencing services. The Order will be effective 30 days from Federal Register publication, but covered entities will have one year to come into compliance. Comments and reply comments on the NPRM will be due 30 and 60 days after Federal Register publication, respectively.