Sen. Markey Introduces Bill to Require Captions and Audio Descriptions for All Streaming Video
This bill was recently introduced in the Senate and is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It is in the early stages of the lawmaking process and has no upcoming votes scheduled at this time. The bill is considered active as it waits for the committee to decide on its next steps.
Companion bill: Rep. Dingell Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Require Captions and Audio Descriptions for Online Video →While accessibility is often a bipartisan issue, this bill imposes significant new costs and rules on tech companies and social media platforms, which may face pushback.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 4858 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 4858 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Small businesses that produce online video content or operate video platforms may face new compliance costs to add captions and audio descriptions. The bill does include an economic burden exemption process that allows entities to petition the FCC if meeting the requirements would be too costly. But for many small content creators and platforms, the new obligations represent real added expense, even if large platforms can absorb the costs more easily.
“an entity responsible for publishing, exhibiting, or making available video programming or consumer generated media may petition the Commission for an exemption from the requirements under paragraphs (2) and (3), and the Commission may grant the exemption upon a showing that the requirement to include audio description would be economically burdensome”
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes or news coverage recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2026
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