On April 16, 2026, bipartisan lawmakers reintroduced the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act, legislation that would update 15-year-old federal law governing accessibility of communication and video technologies. The bill would require streaming platforms, video conferencing tools like Zoom, and 911 emergency systems to be accessible to people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, or have communication disabilities.

What Changed Since 2010

The original law, the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), passed in 2010. It required closed captioning for broadcast television content shown online and set audio description requirements for a small percentage of TV programming. Since then, technology has changed. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Max now produce original content that never airs on broadcast TV, meaning those shows aren't covered by the 2010 law. Video conferencing tools weren't widely used in 2010. Next-generation 911 systems that accept text, photos, and video didn't exist yet.

The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology reports that internet-only video content is exempt from CVAA closed captioning requirements. Programming that originated on TV must have captions when streamed online, but shows created exclusively for streaming platforms face no such mandate. Audio description requirements remain limited to a small percentage of television programming, and finding or activating these features on most devices remains difficult for users.

What the CVTA Would Require

The CVTA Act expands accessibility requirements in three areas:

Streaming platforms: All online video programming would need closed captions and audio description, not just content that originally aired on broadcast TV. This includes Netflix originals, YouTube Premium shows, and other streaming-first content.

Video conferencing: Tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet would need to include accessibility features for people with disabilities, including real-time captioning and communication access for deaf and hard-of-hearing participants.

911 systems: Next-generation 911 services would be required to support text, video, and other communication methods accessible to people with disabilities, not just voice calls or relay services.

The bill also requires that accessibility features like captions and audio description be easy to find and activate on all devices.

What This Means for Families

If the CVTA passes, families would see changes in how they access entertainment and emergency services.

Streaming services would need to provide audio description on their original programming. Right now, a family with a blind child might find that a popular Netflix series has no audio description track, even though the platform's technology supports it. Under the CVTA, that family would have the same access to streaming content as everyone else.

Schools and employers that rely on video conferencing would be required to make those tools accessible. A student who is deaf wouldn't need to request accommodations for every Zoom class or rely on a third-party captioning service. The platform itself would provide accessible communication options.

Calling 911 would work without a relay service. Current systems require people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to use a telecommunications relay service to reach emergency responders. Next-generation 911 systems can accept text and video, but without federal accessibility requirements, many jurisdictions haven't implemented those features. The CVTA would mandate them.

Who's Behind the Bill

Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) authored the original 2010 CVAA and is the lead sponsor of the CVTA. He's joined by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) in the Senate and Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.) in the House. The bill has bipartisan support in both chambers.

Disability advocacy organizations including the American Foundation for the Blind, the American Council of the Blind, and Deaf Equality have endorsed the legislation.

What Families Can Do Now

The bill has been introduced but hasn't passed. Families can contact their senators and representatives to urge support for the CVTA Act.

• Look up your senators at senate.gov and your representative at house.gov
• Call their offices or submit a message through their websites
• Share specific examples of accessibility barriers your family faces with streaming services, video conferencing, or emergency communication
• Ask them to cosponsor the CVTA Act and vote for it when it comes to the floor

You can also contact the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology at cvtaaccess.org for advocacy resources and updates on the bill's progress through Congress.

Timeline

The bill was introduced on April 16, 2026. It has been referred to committee, where it will be reviewed before advancing to a full vote in the House and Senate. There's no set timeline for committee action, but advocacy organizations are urging families to contact their legislators now while the bill is in the early stages of consideration.