Access to Communications

Converging Media
The convergence of broadcast, information technology and telecommunications technologies opens up considerable potential for people to access a wider range of information, entertainment, and education. Yet access to communications can pose huge problems for the UK's 2 million people with sight problems.

Social exclusion
Currently, blind and partially sighted people have problems accessing digital TV, digital radio, mobile phones and websites, as accessibility is usually not built in. Exclusion comes about because of poor design, the extra cost or technical difficulty of access, the absence of suitable equipment and a lack of training. All of these services could be available for use and fully accessible if they included basic inclusive design features such as facilities to magnify text or provide an audio alternative to on-screen menus.

Audio description
One of the most critical issues for blind and partially sighted people today is access to digital TV. For more than a decade, RNIB and others have campaigned for audio description on TV. Audio description is an additional narration that fits "between" dialogue and describes action, body language, facial expressions and other non-verbal actions that help people to follow what is happening. For a demonstration of audio description see www.rnib.org.uk/audiodescription

A small number of audio described programmes are available on Skydigital and now Freeview (digital terrestrial), since December 2003, when the first set top box for digital terrestrial television that can receive audio description went on sale.

In addition, in June this year all the remaining Public Service Broadcasters (BBC, ITV and Channel 4) agreed to make their audio described programmes available on Sky, following Five’s lead in doing so back in December 2003.

Whilst RNIB welcomes the positive developments that have taken place during 2004, with a set-top box now able to take advantage of audio description on Freeview and Public Service Broadcasters’ audio described programmes available on Sky, RNIB’s campaigning work is ongoing to:

• Ensure blind and partially sighted people have access to the equipment they need to receive audio described programmes at no extra cost.
• Significantly increasing broadcasters' targets for audio described programming on digital terrestrial, cable and satellite platforms.
• Ensuring future technological developments incorporate the access needs of blind and partially sighted people.
  
  

The Communications Act, 2003

Get the Picture campaign report

Read our responses to Ofcom consultations:

1. Ofcom consultation on Electronic Programme Guides
   
2. Comments RNIB on BBC Building Public Value
   
3. Ofcom review of public service television broadcasting