Bridge Multimedia, a proud member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Disability Advisory Committee (DAC), had the added honor of serving on the FCC’s Internet Protocol Closed Caption (IPCC) Subcommittee Workgroup. This impressive team of interdisciplinary media and disability specialists was tasked with identifying expectations for streaming closed captions delivered over IP.
On November 1, 2022, the DAC approved the IPCC Workgroup’s Final Recommendations. Kyle Dixon, Chairman of the Workgroup, prepared a Summary/Overview of the Final Recommendation Report. Bridge Multimedia’s PDF Remediation Team created accessible PDF and Word versions of both these documents. The Final Report will be published on the FCC’s website.
Serving on the IPCC Subcommittee afforded Bridge with the unique opportunity of utilizing nearly every team member’s experience and expertise to increase the FCC’s knowledge of current and evolving communications issues for individuals with disabilities. Bridge CEO, Matt Kaplowitz, was fully committed to utilizing all company resources to assist in the creation of the Recommendations Report. Bridge General Manager, Dennis DeJesus, and Technical Engineers Louis Milisci and John Schumann compiled the required data regarding caption format features. Matt also worked closely with his accessibility writers and Instructional Design Department to devise methods of explaining extremely complicated technical intricacies with comprehensible wording, informative graphics, and a caption technology glossary. Bridge’s Research Division, under the leadership of Dr. Wendy Sapp, informed the entire process.
As a social enterprise, Bridge Multimedia is always looking for ways to lend its support to disability-based advocacy and policy-making initiatives. Working with the amazingly talented individuals of the IPCC Subcommittee Workgroup to produce the important Recommendations Report was a truly gratifying experience for everyone on the Bridge Team!