Access For Sight Impaired Consumers

NBRS Applies To CRTC For Exclusive DVS Channel

The National Broadcast Reading Service - , the parent charity that operates AudioVision and VoicePrint, has applied to the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television & Telecommunications Commission) for a TV license. The TV station will broadcast a range of programming, including some of the top programs from broadcasters such as CTV, in an open video description format.

As you may know, video description is just like closed captioning, except it's a soundtrack, not print, and it describes what you see, not what you don't hear. It's added to the soundtrack, so you hear everything else as well...the music, sound effects, etc. But the "silent" screen action is what gets described.

Right now, it's possible for people with vision loss to "watch" TV programs, augmented with video description by using the secondary audio program (SAP) on their TV. Every TV channel has a SAP and with the appropriate resources you can access each channel's SAP. NBRS's application is for a channel where one will not need special equipment like the SAP to access the video description. It will look and sound like other TV channels except that all of the programming will include video description.

In the licensing process for any new station the CRTC asks the public for their comments on proposals. These comments are called interventions and they have to be provided in writing either through the mail or electronically. The deadline for supplying comments on NBRS's proposed service is March 1, 2007. The details of where comments are to be sent and the required format are included on this web page. To make this process easier for everyone, you can Download support letter for NBRS applicationand edit its content to fit your particular views or situation. As a second option, you can also download an alternately worded support letter for NBRS application. What is critical here is that the CRTC hears from you, particularly if you support the NBRS application.

If you wish to support this project and you can write to the CRTC on NBRS's behalf, read on.

When you write to the Commission, please make them aware of the following:

That you support this service for persons with vision loss and that as a cable subscriber you are willing to pay $2.40 per year to see that this station is made available to persons needing it.
Also, that you think this service deserves the widest possible distribution so it is available to everyone who needs it.
If you have a family member or friend who has a vision loss or you have first hand experience of the value of description to a person with vision loss, it is important to include this information in your letter
If you have had experience of going to a channel where description is reportedly available and have been unable to access it or find it, it is important that the Commission hear about this.
If you know someone who has found programs that interested them but had not been able to find them in a described format that also is something the Commission would like to hear about.
If the SAP technology often used to access described programming has been difficult to navigate for you or someone you know with vision loss, it is important for the Commission to hear that.
Your intervention should clearly identify the application as 2006-1579-2 and indicate whether you support or oppose the application. If you propose changes to the application, include the facts and grounds for your proposal.
Each paragraph of your document should be numbered.
Finally, if you file your intervention by email or fax, the line ***End of document*** should be entered following the last paragraph of the document. This indicates that the document has not been damaged during electronic transmission.

One of the requests in NBRS's application is that the 20 cents per month is not marked up but passed directly through to the consumer. For this reason, NBRS expects that the Cable and Satellite providers may oppose the licensing because the channel they are asking for could be used for other services that they could profit from. So it is essential that they hear from you if you feel this service is of value to you, to others or to the system as a whole.

It also is important that the Commission can understand from your letter who you are relative to this application. Are you simply an interested consumer? Do you currently subscribe to cable or satellite services? Do you have ties to the sight-impaired community? It does not alter the value of your comments; it only allows the CRTC to put them in context.

The Commission also holds a public hearing at which interested parties have an option to appear. If you feel that you have more to add, you should ask to appear. The hearing will take place the week of March 26, 2007 in Gatineau, Quebec. Asking to appear does not guarantee that you will be invited to do so. Given the time constraints of these public processes, the Commission often selects only a few. However, if you feel strongly about appearing, you should state this. If you wish to appear, it is important to note that the Commission uses intervention letters to determine who should appear.

Remember to include the number 2006-1579-2 in your letter or message and to copy both the CRTC and NBRS when you send your letter of support. Here are four ways of communicating your support:

1. You can by following the simple instructions on the CRTC web page.

2. E-mailing your own letter or one of our downloaded sample letters attached to an e-mail message to the CRTC. If you choose to use one of our sample letters, be sure to revise it with your particulars before you file your intervention by attaching to an e-mail. This link will also ensure a copy is sent to NBRS for their records as well.

If you have any problems, call NBRS at 1-800-567-6755 ext. 225 or call John Harris at 1-866-297-7623 for additional assistance.

CRTC: Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2

NBRS appreciates any support you lend this extremely worthwhile cause and we encourage you to take the time to write the Commission. If you wish, you can on the CRTC's website or log onto for a text or audio version.

As you can gather, the approval of this new channel would be a huge win for persons with vision loss, not only in Canada but in other parts of the world, too. In the US, persons with vision loss have even fewer media services than they do in Canada or in the UK. Providing a channel with open description that anyone can access, anytime, would send a huge message about acknowledging the needs of persons with vision loss in our society, especially in media.

For more details or if you have questions, please call John Harris toll-free at 1-866-297-7623. Your comments must reach the CRTC and NBRS by March 1, 2007.

We hope NBRS can count on your support and that you share this news with your colleagues, friends and family.

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