Now is the time to break down these walls of exclusion of the Digital Era.

The goal is very clear: to ensure that Americans with disabilities have the opportunity to access and use communications services and infrastructure just like the rest of us.

The requirement for the FCC to develop a National Broadband Plan... was designed to produce a roadmap to a broadband future open to all Americans.

We believe that, today, access to the Internet and the ability to communicate over smartphones and computers is an essential service of the 21st Century.

I would note that one of the first completed, and least controversial, sections of that landmark legislation was Title IV.

I want to congratulate you, Senator Pryor, and Senator Rockefeller, on the leadership which you are showing on this very important issue of affordable, universal access for all Americans to the latest technologies of the 21st century.

The guiding principles of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act that I have introduced in the House... is to bring existing federal laws requiring communications and video programming accessibility up to date.

The time to solve the problem, in our judgment, is now.

I want to sincerely thank both Representative Ed Markey (D-MA-7) who introduced H.R. 3101 and especially today Senator Pryor and Senator Kerry today for trying to help individuals with sensory disabilities deal with the problems of access…

Too many of the applications transmitted over the existing devices and facilities are inaccessible to people with disabilities.

Again, it is just to make this point that we must find a way in our country to have a plan. In China, on Monday they decide to do something, on Friday it starts to happen. We need a plan. We need a plan to put together our inventors and…

The amendment I am offering today, along with the gentlelady from California (Mrs. Capps), would add a new R&D program specifically focused on increasing our Nation's capacity to turn new innovations into new jobs. A clean energy…