# 190

                                             April 12, 1996



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Petaluma, California  XXXXXXXXXX

Dear Mr. XXXXXXX:

     Congresswoman Woolsey forwarded your correspondence
regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to
this office for response.  Your letter expressed concern that
films shown in movie theaters are not accessible to people with
hearing impairments.  We apologize for our delay in responding.

      The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability
in employment, the provision of public services, places of public
accommodation, and transportation.  The ADA also requires all new
construction and alterations in public buildings, places of
public accommodation, and commercial facilities to be accessible,
and it mandates the establishment of telephone relay services.

     You are correct in your understanding that the ADA does not
require movie theaters to show films with open captions.  Under
the Telecommunications Act of 1996, however, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) will investigate the extent to
which video programming is currently closed captioned and then
promulgate regulations requiring video producers to incorporate
captions into production.  For more information regarding the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, you may contact:

     The Federal Communications Commission
     1919 M Street, N.W.
     Washington, D.C. 20554
     Attention: Richard Engleman
     (202) 653-6288 (Voice)
     (The FCC requests that persons with speech or hearing
impairments use the relay service to contact their offices).
     
     I hope that this information proves useful to you.

                            Sincerely,



                         John L. Wodatch
                              Chief
                    Disability Rights Section

cc:  Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey