The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) is a U.S. federal law signed in October 2010. Its purpose is straightforward: accessibility protections written for telephones and broadcast television had not kept up with the internet, so Congress updated them. The CVAA extends accessibility requirements to modern digital communications — VoIP calling, video conferencing, email, text messaging — and to video programming delivered over the internet.
The law is enforced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), not the Department of Justice, which makes it different from the ADA in both scope and process. Title I covers "advanced communications services" and the equipment and software used to access them; Title II covers video programming — most visibly, closed captioning for TV content redistributed online.
The key question for most businesses is whether the CVAA applies to them at all. Unlike the ADA, it does not cover websites in general — but if your product includes chat, calling, messaging, or streamed video that has aired on U.S. television, it may impose specific obligations. This guide walks through what they are.
Communications, not websites generally
The CVAA targets advanced communications services (VoIP, video conferencing, email, messaging) and video programming — not websites in general, unlike the ADA.
FCC enforcement
Consumers file complaints with the FCC's Disability Rights Office, and the Commission can order fixes and impose substantial monetary forfeitures.
Captioning for online TV content
Video shown on U.S. television with captions must remain captioned when delivered online, with quality standards for accuracy, timing, and placement.
Built-in product obligations
Covered services and equipment must be accessible where achievable — accessibility has to be designed in, not bolted on after complaints.
What the CVAA is and why it exists
Before 2010, U.S. accessibility law for communications largely covered traditional telephone service and broadcast TV. As communication moved online — VoIP instead of landlines, streaming instead of cable — those older rules did not reach the new technology. The CVAA closed that gap.
Title I requires that "advanced communications services" (ACS) and the equipment used for them be accessible to people with disabilities, unless doing so is not achievable. ACS includes VoIP, electronic messaging (email, SMS, instant messaging), and interoperable video conferencing. Title II updates video programming rules: it requires closed captions on internet-delivered video that aired on television with captions, expands audio description requirements, and requires that user interfaces, menus, and program guides on video devices be accessible.
Who must comply
The CVAA covers a wider range of businesses than many people expect. A SaaS product with built-in video conferencing or real-time chat can qualify as an ACS provider. A streaming platform that carries content previously shown on U.S. television is subject to the IP closed-captioning rules. A smart TV app or set-top box maker has user interface obligations. Conversely, an ordinary marketing website, e-commerce store, or blog with no communications features and no televised video content generally falls outside the CVAA — for those, the ADA and WCAG are the relevant framework.
- Providers of VoIP, video conferencing, email, and messaging services
- Manufacturers of hardware and software used for advanced communications
- Video programming owners and distributors delivering TV content online
- Makers of devices and apps used to view video programming, including menus and guides
Core requirements for digital products
For advanced communications services, the central obligation is that the service and its equipment be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities, unless that is not achievable given the cost and nature of the product. Where full accessibility is not achievable, the product must be compatible with commonly used assistive technology. Covered entities must also keep records of their accessibility efforts and file an annual compliance certification with the FCC.
For video programming, the headline requirement is closed captioning: video that aired on U.S. television with captions must carry captions of comparable quality when delivered over the internet, and players must render them with user control over things like size and color. Audio description obligations for television have also been phased in and continue to expand.
In practice this means things like making a video-call app operable by keyboard and screen reader, supporting real-time text, and providing caption rendering and customization in your video player.
Enforcement and penalties
The FCC enforces the CVAA through a consumer complaint process. A person who encounters an inaccessible covered service typically starts with a Request for Dispute Assistance filed with the FCC's Disability Rights Office, which tries to resolve the issue informally. If that fails, an informal complaint can follow, and the FCC can investigate and order corrective action.
The Commission can impose significant monetary forfeitures — penalties under the Communications Act can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for continuing violations. Beyond fines, the real cost is being ordered to rework a shipped product under regulatory scrutiny, which is far more expensive than building accessibility in from the start.
How the CVAA relates to WCAG
The CVAA does not mandate WCAG conformance. The FCC's rules describe functional outcomes — operable by people who are blind, deaf, or have limited dexterity — rather than a specific technical standard. That said, WCAG is the most practical roadmap for meeting many CVAA obligations: its requirements around captions, keyboard operability, screen reader compatibility, and contrast map directly onto what the FCC expects.
Most teams therefore treat WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 Level AA as their engineering target and layer the CVAA-specific items — caption quality, real-time text, accessible guides, recordkeeping — on top. If you also face ADA exposure, Section 508, or the European Accessibility Act, a WCAG-based program covers the common ground across all of them.
Practical steps toward compliance
Start by determining whether the CVAA actually applies to you: inventory your product for communications features (calling, conferencing, messaging) and for video that has aired on U.S. television. If it applies, treat accessibility as a product requirement with an owner, not a legal afterthought.
Automated tooling helps you find and fix a large share of underlying issues quickly — an AI-powered solution like AccessWiser can surface problems such as missing labels, poor contrast, and keyboard traps and help remediate them — but no tool alone guarantees legal compliance. For CVAA-covered features, pair automated scanning with manual testing by people who use screen readers and captions.
- Map which features and content fall under Title I (communications) or Title II (video)
- Audit covered features against WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA plus caption quality requirements
- Test with real assistive technology: screen readers, keyboard-only use, caption displays
- Keep records of accessibility efforts and file the annual FCC certification if covered
- Offer an accessible feedback channel so users report barriers to you, not the FCC
Frequently asked questions
Does the CVAA apply to my ordinary business website?
Generally no. The CVAA covers advanced communications services and video programming, not websites as such. A standard marketing site or online store with no calling, conferencing, or messaging features and no televised video is typically outside its scope — though the ADA and WCAG still apply.
Do all my online videos need captions under the CVAA?
The CVAA's IP captioning rules cover video that was shown on U.S. television with captions. Original web-only video is not covered by those rules — but captioning it anyway is strongly advisable, because WCAG requires captions for prerecorded video and the ADA can reach uncaptioned content on covered websites.
How is the CVAA different from the ADA?
The ADA is a broad civil rights law enforced through the courts and is the basis for most web accessibility lawsuits. The CVAA is a communications law enforced by the FCC, with narrower scope but very specific obligations for communications services, equipment, and video programming, including recordkeeping and certification duties.
What does "achievable" mean in the CVAA?
Title I requires accessibility unless it is not achievable — not reasonably possible given factors such as cost, company resources, and the nature of the product. It is a case-by-case standard, and where full accessibility is not achievable, compatibility with assistive technology is required instead.
What happens if someone files a CVAA complaint against my company?
The process usually begins with a Request for Dispute Assistance through the FCC's Disability Rights Office, giving you a chance to resolve the problem informally. If it is not resolved, an informal complaint can follow, with FCC investigation and possible forfeitures. Responding quickly and in good faith at the first stage is by far the best outcome.
This article is provided for general information about accessibility regulations and standards. It is not legal advice — consult a qualified professional about your specific compliance obligations.