PWDs WORKSHOP 10 th -11 th MAY 2012 BROADCASTING SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT- ACCESSIBILITY BY PWDs

1. PWDs WORKSHOP 10th -11th MAY 2012 BROADCASTING SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT- ACCESSIBILITY BY PWDs A.M. Ambani CCK

2. Agenda • CCK regulatory mandate with respect to Broadcasting • Legislative provisions for PWD accessibility to Broadcasting • What is the challenge • Broadcasting accessibility solutions for PWDs • Standardization efforts for PWD accessibility solutions • Initiatives to facilitate accessibility – Examples • Broadcasting equipment incorporating PWD accessibility • Conclusion

3. CCK regulatory mandate with respect to Broadcasting

4. Background Information • Broadcasting service is a radiocommunication service in which the transmissions are intended for direct reception by the general public • Mainly comprise of audio or visual signal • Reception of signal is by use of commonly available receivers (radio or Tv ) • Broadcasting services using frequency resource are governed at international level by Relevant ITU Plans (i.e GE84 for FM, GE89 for analogue TV, GE06 for digital TV/sound)

5. CCK’s mandate wrt Broadcasting • The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act of 2009 amended the Kenya Information and Communications Act of 1998 expanding CCK’s mandate to include, amongst others, licensing and regulating the broadcasting sector in Kenya. • Section 46 of the Act details functions of CCK in relation to broadcasting services, which include; • Management of the broadcasting frequency resource • Licensing of broadcasting services and service providers; • Development of the programming code; • Provide input to development of regulations; • Handling of complaints related to broadcast content; • Enforcement of license conditions, Act and Regulations;

6. Regulatory mechanisms The Commission has put in place mechanisms to regulate the broadcasting sector in accordance with CAP 411A. The include; Development of the Broadcasting Regulations (2009) in consultation with industry stakeholders. The Regulations outline; Licensing procedures, Broadcasting services, Programme code and Complaints among others. Development of a new licensing framework that takes into account the Act and Regulations. Appointment of a six member Broadcast Content Advisory Council (BCAC)

7. Broadcast Content Advisory Council (BCAC) • The BCAC is established in accordance with section 46S of the Act. The Council is tasked with: • Making decisions on the administration of broadcast content. • Making decisions on the mechanisms for handling complaints under the act. • Monitoring compliance with broadcasting codes and ethics for broadcasters.

8. Programming code • The programming code aims to provide guidelines on the standards of programming to be observed in radio and television, the objectives include; • Protection of children, minors and vulnerable persons from inappropriate content; • Ensuring observance of good taste and decency; • Upholding human dignity and privacy • Promotion of fairness and democracy; • Protection of acceptable morals • Promotion of observance of law and order; • Promotion of cohesive society free from racial or ethnic hatred; • Promotion of accuracy of information; • Promotion of local content. • Promotion of professionalism

9. Complaints handling procedure • The procedure sets out steps to be taken by broadcasters and consumers of broadcast services in handling of broadcast content related complaints. • The procedure requires broadcasters to file their complaints process with CCK. The process should include issues such as the manner in which the complaint should lodged, details that are required when submitting a complaint and the manner in which the complaint shall be investigated as well as the process of investigation. • The procedure also outlines how complaints that have been escalated to CCK are handled.

10. Legislative/Regulatory provisions for PWDs accessibilty

11. UN Convention on RPWDs The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) adopted by the UN General Assembly 13 Dec 2006 came into force 3 May 2008 signed by 153 countries and ratified by 112 (as of May 2012) Article 9 refers to accessibility and ICTs 9(2)(h) “to promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible ICTs and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.” 11

12. UN Convention on RPWDs (2) ICT accessibility is included in all sector-specific accessibility accommodation Some of the obligations in each application area Media & Internet – Encouraging mass media providers including providers of information on the Internet to make their services accessible (Article 21 (d)). Have access to cultural materials, television programs, films, theatre and other cultural activities, in accessible formats. (art.30) 12

13. Constitution of Kenya • Section 54 of the Constitution • A person with any disability is entitled–– • (c) to reasonable access to all places, public transport and • information; • (b) to access educational institutions and facilities for persons with disabilities that are integrated into society to the extent • compatible with the interests of the person; • d) to use Sign language, Braille or other appropriate means of • communication; and • (e) to access materials and devices to overcome constraints arising from the person’s disability.

14. Provision in PWDs Act 2003 • Clause 39 of the PWDs Act on television programmes • All television stations shall provide a sign language inset or subtitles in all • (i) newscasts and educational programmes, • (ii) programmes covering events of national significance.

15. What is the challenge

16. Broadcasting & PWDs • WSIS target- all to have access to broadcasting • Broadcasting- important source of information, entertainment, education. vital during emergencies • Whole planet covered by a radio and TV signal, • Televisions in over 1.4 billion households around the world, • representing 98 % of households in developed countries and nearly 73% of households in developing countries • 10% of worlds population suffer some form of disability • Kenya: about 4 million TVs, over 8 million radios • TV coverage : over 60 % of population • Radio Coverage: over 80% of population • Access to Internet: 6.15m subscribers • Mobile phone: 28 million subscribers

17. Broadcasting & PWDs • Important disabilities relevant for the broadcasting include: • • hearing disabilities; • • seeing disabilities; • • aging disabilities; • • cognitive disabilities; • • lack of controllability of the man-machine interface and ease of use of the receiver or terminal. • Over 1 billion people have some form of disability • At least 1 in 6 have problems watching TV • 25-50% of persons over 65 have problems watching TV • Persons without disabilities often ignorant of the special needs of PWDs wrt Broadcasting

18. What is the challenge? IGNORANCE

19. What is the challenge? Finding solution acceptable to all

20. Electronic programme Guide (EPG)

21. Broadcasting accessibility solutions for PWDs

22. Hearing Disabilities (1) • For TV viewing, the main method of making programmes accessible is by providing captioning (also called subtitling). • Digital television systems have made it possible for the subtitles to be cut into the picture by a simple procedure on the remote control • the secondary method of making programmes accessible is by having a Signer ‘in screen’ providing a sign language version of the audio • can be included permanently in the picture, or be optionally cut into the picture, at the user’s choice, using a broadcast multimedia system.

23. Hearing Disabilities (2) • For radio listening, the main method of making programmes accessible is by providing data which allows display of speech on a receiver screen (speech-to-text conversion data). • Digital radio (audio) programmes - can now include data for speech-to-text display in the receiver. A text display may also be helpful for hearing impaired people to understand the radio program.

24. Captioning • Captioning: real-time on-screen transcript of dialogue • Useful for hearing impaired, but also e.g. for non-native speakers • Captioning service can be provided remotely or on-site

25. Captioning

26. Captioning, signing

27. Seeing Disabilities (1) • For TV viewing, the main method of making programmes accessible to those with seeing disabilities is to use ‘audio descriptions’. These are audio passages which explain what is happening visually in the picture. • are provided on a second audio channel which is mixed in the receiver with the normal audio in natural pauses in dialogue. • Audio descriptions also helpful to those with aging disabilities to bring to their attention things they need to notice in the picture to follow

28. Signing

29. Ageing Disabilities (1) • For the elderly, it can be difficult to follow the dialogue on the radio or on TV because it appears to flow too quickly. • Main method of making radio programmes accessible is to adjust electronically the natural silence periods in the dialogue, and thus to make the dialogue appear to be slower. • valuable to add ‘audio descriptions’ to television programmes which help the viewer to follow the story line in the pauses in dialogue • Radio programmes available via Internet with several speed adjustment options may help aged listeners to understand the programmes.

30. Receiver user friendliness (1) • Receivers should have users with disabilities in mind. This can be done by the inclusion of facilities that include: • • simple and self evident controls, which operate in a similar way on all receivers; • • visual and audio guides to programme selection and choice; • • facilities for subtitle display, signer display, and audio descriptions. • Manufacturers play a key role- a growing interest in “universal-design products” that anyone can use with ease • require a comprehensive study that examines program production techniques while also considering the ease of operating receivers

31. Standardisation efforts for PWD accessibility solutions

32. Who does the technical work-ITU • ITU promotes the technical research /development that will facilitate accessible services • The technical work on accessibility is covered within various technical committees -two relevant questions • Q.4/2: "Human factors related issues for improvement of the quality of life through international telecommunications.“ • Q.26/16: “Accessibility to Multimedia Systems and Services for persons with disabilities”: it is responsible for developing (or assisting in the development of) multimedia technical standards addressing accessibility needs of persons with disabilities • Two Study Groups: ITU-T SG 2 and SG 16

33. ITU-T Study Group 16 (Multimedia coding, systems and applications) • Lead ITU-T SG on ICT accessibility for PWDs • Question 26/16 is the group specifically designated to deal with Accessibility to Multimedia Systems and Services for persons with disabilities. • Q26/16 is responsible for developing (or assisting in the development of) multimedia technical standards addressing accessibility needs of persons with disabilities. • It also reviews accessibility features included in telecom standards developed in other Study groups.

34. ITU Focus Group on AVM accessibility • ITU Focus Group on Audio Visual Media Accessibility established • Consists of Various Working Groups • Areas of focus include • Captioning • Audio/video description, spoken captioning • Signing /Sign language • Digital Television Broadcast • Electronic Programme guide • Mobile & handheld devices • IPTV • Emerging access services

35. ITU-R Rec. 1894 –Captioned Radio Describes mechanisms to support captioned radio broadcast services on terrestrial digital sound broadcasting systems and analogue (FM) system(s). Traditional FM transmissions capable of transmitting captioning ( Rec. ITU-R BS.643) known as the radio-data system (RDS), Recognizes fundamental importance of Bridging the disabilities Digital Divide that consumer radio receivers are widely available today that have been shown to be configurable to display captioning 35

36. ITU-R Recommendation 1894 (2) programmes intended for radio broadcast digital system, appropriate modes should be identified in all systems to support captioned radio with a minimum 500 bit/s capacity programmes intended for radio broadcast using analogue FM methods, guidelines for mechanisms for supporting captioning described manufacturers of consumer radio receivers (digital and FM ) strongly encouraged to produce receivers that display captioning Broadcasters strongly encouraged to transmit programmes with captioning as an integral part of their broadcast 36

37. ITU Accessibility Landmarks (Oct2010) First ITU Pleni-Potentiary Conference October 2010 where a Resolution on accessibility was approved: “Telecommunication/information and communication technology accessibility for persons with disabilities, including age-related disabilities” Possible to expand the fellowship programme to enable delegates with disabilities to participate in the work of the Union. ITU Members can help by developing guidelines to enhance the accessibility, compatibility and usability of telecomms/ICT services, products and terminals 37

38. Initiatives to facilitate accessibility to broadcasting by PWDs-

39. Initiative to improve accessibility-Japan(1) • Japan: a study on machine translation to Japanese sign language with computer-generated (CG)-animation. • NHK developed adaptive speech rate conversion technology - hearing assistance technology for the elderly specifically for listening to radio or television broadcasts • Great need for more TV programs to be closed-captioned to help hearing impaired and elderly people watch TV. Automatic speech recognition is expected to contribute to providing text from speech in real-time • NHK has been using speech recognition for closed-captioning of some of its news, sports, and other live TV programs

40. Initiative to improve accessibility-Japan (2) • In news programs, automatic speech recognition applied to anchors‟ speech in a studio has been used with a manual error correction system • Live TV programs, such as music shows, baseball games, and soccer games, have been closed-captioned by using a re-speak method in which another speaker listens to the program and rephrases it for speech recognition • The re-speaker listens to the original soundtrack of live TV programs and repeats the contents, rephrasing if necessary, so that the meaning will be clearer or more recognizable than the original

41. Initiative to improve accessibility-Japan(3) • Digital TV hasstandard slots for closed-captioning and audio description. • Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan (MIC) guidelines: By the end of 2017, followings should be accomplished, • 100% of closed-caption including live programs (excluding technically impossible programs) • 10% of audio description for applicable programs • Speed Rate conversion offered: • Radio and TV receiver equipped with Speed Rate Conversion Chip • Listeners can slow down /speed up the rate of speech in a program.

42. Initiative to improve accessibility-USA • 1990 Television Decoder Act, in effect since 1993, requires all televisions 13 inches or larger manufactured for sale in the United States to have built-in decoder circuitry. • Captions now reach millions of viewers: • Deaf and hard-of-hearing • Persons learning to read or learning English as a second language • Educational benefits of captioned television are being realized as families "read" TV together. • Captions are visible in public places, such as airports or bars, where the audio is often difficult to hear. • Currently, all programs airing in prime time (daily 8-11pm) on the commercial networks and PBS are captioned

43. Initiative to improve accessibility-Canada • CRTC policy directs television broadcasters to improve and control the quality of closed captioning, including in digital formats. It intends to impose conditions of licence in these areas at the broadcasters' licence renewals. • Intends to require additional television broadcasters to provide described video through conditions of licence imposed at their licence renewals. CRTC also sets out various measures designed to increase the awareness and accessibility of described video. • Intends to require television broadcasters to provide high-quality audio description through conditions of licence to be imposed at the time of their licence renewals.

44. UK Code on Television Access Services For both public and commercial channels 10 year targets: % of TV programming to be accessible; increasing over time subtitling: from 10% to 100% of programming now; rising to 80%+ for all by 2014 signing: from 1% to 5% of programming, over varying timeframes audio description: from 4% to 10%, over varying timeframes 44

45. Initiative to improve accessibility-Australia • The government of Australia provided seed funding in 1981 for the establishment of the Australian Caption Centre (ACC) and the purchase of equipment. • Captioning by the ACC commenced in 1982 and a further grant from the Australian government enabled the ACC to achieve and maintain financial self-sufficiency. • The ACC, now known as Media Access Australia, sold its commercial captioning division to Red Bee Media in December 2005. Red Bee Media continues to provide captioning services to Australia today.

46. Initiatives to improve accessibility-Kenya • Part IV, Section 36 of the Broadcasting Regulations-content for PWDs • (1) the Commission shall require broadcasters to take specific steps to promote the understanding and enjoyment of programmes transmitted through its stations by PWDs and in particular, persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who are blind of partially sighted. • (2) The Commission shall prescribe by notice in the gazette the • manner, time and percentage of programmes targeting persons referred to in paragraph (1) shall be broadcast. • (3) Broadcasting licences granted by CCK shall have • conditions related to facilitating accessibility by PWDs

47. Initiatives to improve accessibility-Kenya (2) • Currently, some programming by the Public Broadcaster and private TV broadcasting stations incorporate captioning and or signing • Legislation and regulations governing broadcasting services in kenya fairly new and not yet fully implemented • Once embedded in the broadcasters licence conditions, next stage will be enforcement • CCK continues to be involved in initiatives aimed at facilitating accessibility by PWDs – going forward and with the necessary frameworks in place, accessibility to broadcasting services by PWDs will be taken on board • Collaborative efforts by all stakeholders vital for success

48. PWD Accesibility -Broadcasting Receiving Equipment

49. PWD accessible Equipment development • Development of PWD enabled broadcasting receivers require collaboration of stakeholders (PWD experts, equipment manufacturers, standardisation bodies, researchers, etc) • Solutions / products may need to be customised to local environment • PWD products often more costly than equivalent products, out of reach for PWDs • Additional elements in content development hence extra costs for producers/broadcasters • In developed economies, Govts are in the forefront of facilitating availability of the equipment to PWDs • Adoption of Digital Technology in Broadcasting will make it easier to incorporate assistive services for PWD

50. NPR demonstration of accessible Radio services – Captioned Radio