F1PART 4AON-DEMAND PROGRAMME SERVICES
F2Accessibility
Ss. 368BC, 368BD and cross-heading inserted (31.7.2017) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 93(2), 118(6); S.I. 2017/765, reg. 2(y)
368BCAccessibility for people with disabilities
1
The Secretary of State may by regulations impose requirements on providers of on-demand programme services for the purpose of ensuring that their services are accessible to people with disabilities affecting their sight or hearing or both.
2
The requirements that may be imposed include—
a
requirements for programmes included in the services to be accompanied by subtitling;
b
requirements for such programmes to be accompanied by audio-description for the blind;
c
requirements for such programmes to be presented in, or translated into, sign language.
3
The steps set out in subsections (4) to (6) must be taken before regulations are made under this section.
4
The Secretary of State must ask the appropriate regulatory authority to consult such persons as appear to the authority likely to be affected by regulations under this section, including—
a
providers of on-demand programme services, and
b
representatives of people with disabilities affecting their sight or hearing or both.
5
The appropriate regulatory authority must inform the Secretary of State of—
a
the outcome of the consultation, and
b
any other matters that they think should be taken into account by the Secretary of State for the purposes of the regulations.
6
Where OFCOM are not the appropriate regulatory authority, the Secretary of State must consult OFCOM.
7
A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
Pt. 4A inserted (19.12.2009) by Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2979), regs. 1(1), 2