# 119-s-4322: Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026 119-s-4322, Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4322 - As of: 2026-09-10 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-4322 - Congress: 119 - Title: Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026 - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2026-04-16 - Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA) - Cosponsors: 1 - Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-09-10 ## Summary **accessibility rules for captions and audio description** would be clarified and centralized across the Communications Act. The bill would require labeled, discoverable captions and audio description and give the Federal Communications Commission rulemaking power to set technical standards, timelines, responsibilities, and quality metrics with input from an Advisory Committee and periodic statutory reviews. - Viewers who rely on captions or audio description, including Spanish speakers, would get labeled and discoverable accessibility tracks and obligations that explicitly cover both English and Spanish content. - Broadcasters, streaming services, and programmers would see an explicit timing rule: live or near-live programming released more than 48 hours later is treated as prerecorded for accessibility obligations. The bill also updates cross-references and headings to reflect the new structure. - The Federal Communications Commission and its Advisory Committee would steer centralized technical standards, timelines, entity responsibilities, and quality metrics through rulemaking and scheduled statutory review cycles. ## Cosponsors (1) - Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - Accessible video conferencing for meetings: benefit, medium. This bill would require interoperable video conferencing services and capable equipment to offer accessibility features within 3 years, unless not achievable. Required features would include voice-recognition, simplified accessible interfaces, screen-reader support for shared content, refreshable b… - Captions for online and old videos: benefit, medium. This bill would require closed captions on online video programming first made available after new FCC rules, with deadlines set between 2 and 6 years after the rules take effect. Platforms would have to provide authoring tools, timely upload notices, and guidance for consumer-generated media. The… - Easier accessibility on playback devices: benefit, medium. This bill would require video playback devices to make captions, audio description, and other accessibility features 'readily accessible.' Devices would prompt users to set captions and audio-description options on first power-on or after a factory reset. Where achievable, devices would include a d… - Expanded relay and 911 video access: benefit, medium. This bill would broaden telecommunications relay services to include DeafBlind users and people with related communication needs. Within 2 years the FCC would make direct video calling, Deaf interpreter services, and communication facilitator services eligible for relay fund support. The FCC would,… - More funding for DeafBlind devices: benefit, medium. This bill would raise the National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program's authorized funding to $20,000,000 and require the FCC to adjust that amount each year for inflation. The FCC would update the program rules within 18 months. The bill would expand the statutory definition of DeafBlind to… - Stronger audio description and sign-language rules: benefit, medium. This bill would require the FCC to adopt stricter audio-description quality rules within 4 years so descriptions convey key visual elements. It would require sign language presentations to be visible on screen for programming first shown after new rules. The FCC Chair would create an advisory commi… - Regular reports on new tech accessibility: benefit, medium. This bill would require the FCC, with the U.S. Access Board, to report within 5 years and every 5 years after on how emerging technologies affect accessibility. Within 2 years of each report, the FCC would update regulations in relevant parts of title 47 CFR as needed to address accessibility for n… ## Related bills - 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 - 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act - 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act - 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026 - 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act - 119-s-934: American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2025 ## Sources - [119-s-4322 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4322) ## Related - [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120) - [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022) - [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819) - [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990) - [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823) - [119-s-934: American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-934) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4322 (as of 2026-09-10).