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June 27, 2024 17:23

ComCom Approves Audiovisual Accessibility Mechanisms for Disabled Persons

To align with the EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive, the Communications Commission approved regulations on the accessibility of audiovisual products for persons with disabilities. The regulations oblige media service providers to progressively make their content accessible to people with disabilities, which involves introducing subtitles, sign language and audio description. In addition, the Commission developed the rules for the functioning of the specially adapted online portal through which persons with disabilities will be able to submit complaints to the Public Defender's Office.

According to the regulations on the accessibility of audiovisual products for persons with disabilities, the aforementioned obligations for media service providers will come into force in 2029, and they will be instructed to fully implement the standards stipulated by the code and regulations by 2033.

Based on the 22 December 2022 amendments to the Law of Georgia On Broadcasting, the Commission was instructed to adopt regulations on the accessibility of audiovisual products for persons with disabilities. The draft changes were published on the website of the Communications Commission for a period of 1 month, during which the stakeholders were able to submit their comments and objections. Some of the feedback was shared by ComCom, while for the rest, the Commission provided the relevant justified explanations.

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