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National Television Video Access Coalition

NAVH National Association for Visually Handicapped

NCOA National Council on Aging

On March 22, 2002, The FCC denied a request for a stay on the implementation of video description for television.

As of March 29, 2002,  The Circuit Court of the District of Columbia denied a request for a stay of the FCC rule on the implementation of video description for television.

As of April 1, 2002, the major broadcast networks and cable companies began to comply with the FCC rule to provide 50 hours of programming each quarter in the top 25 TV markets in the country.    Prior to this rule PBS, Turner Classic Movies and Narrative TV provided some audio described programming.

On September 6, 2002, the oral arguments concerning challenge of FCC rule was held in the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit.

On November 8, 2002 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed the FCC and found that the FCC had acted beyond the scope of its authority in adopting the audio description rules.  The court subsequently denied rehearing and there was no appeal to the Supreme Court.

The following is a list of the top 25 markets.

1. New York
2 . Los Angeles
3. Chicago
4 . Philadelphia
5. San Francisco-Oak-San Jose
6. Boston (Manchester)
7. Dallas-Ft. Worth
8. Washington, DC (Hagrstwn)
9. Detroit
10. Atlanta
11. Houston
12. Seattle-Tacoma
13. Minneapolis-St. Paul
14. Tampa-St. Pete (Sarasota)
15. Cleveland
16. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale
17. Phoenix
18. Denver
19. Sacramento-Modesto
20. Pittsburgh
21. Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbrn
22. St. Louis
23. Portland, OR
24. Baltimore
25. San Diego

Equipment to Receive DVS (SAP)

To receive DVS on television in your home, a viewer need have only one of the following: a stereo TV with a
Second Audio Program (S.A.P.) feature, a VCR with S.A.P., or a S.A.P. receiver which can be used with or
without a TV.

To find out whether or not your TV or VCR has S.A.P. capability, consult your owner's manual. Most TVs or
VCRs purchased within the past 5 years are S.A.P. equipped.

To hear the narrated visual descriptions via your stereo TV or VCR, simply activate its S.A.P. feature.

A S.A.P. receiver is a device that is able to tune in, similar to a radio, a S.A.P. channel. It can be used with or
without a TV depending on whether or not you want to receive the video picture. These are available either
pre-tuned or adjustable.

The following companies produce S.A.P. receivers:

Avocet Instruments, Inc. (pre-tuned) 800-443-0728
FM Atlas* (adjustable) 218-879-7676

*This device can also receive Radio Reading Services.

Mention of a product or service does not constitute endorsement by The Metropolitan Washington Ear. Our intent is to increase awareness of items that may be helpful to visually impaired viewers.

In 1990 the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded an Emmy to Ear founder, Margaret Pfanstiehl,for her pioneering "leadership and persistence in the development and implementation of television for the visually impaired."

Here is a brief sample of audio description we produced for television. The descriptions were added to an American Playhouse production, Billy Galvin, aired on PBS. The characters are Jack Galvin and his wife Mae in the living room of the Galvin home, and their son Billy on the sidewalk outside the window. Audio Description of Billy Galvin