United Kingdom Equality & Accessibility

Equality Act

The UK’s Equality Act was established in 2010 to protect people from discrimination in employment and in society. The Equality Act came into force replacing previous discrimination acts, such as Sex Discrimination Act of 1975, the Race Relations Act of 1976, and the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995. The Equality Act encompasses all types of discrimination called “protected characteristics.”

Protected Characteristics include:

• Age
• Belief System (Religion)
• Disability
• Gender
• Partnerships (Marriage and Civil) 
• Race
• Sex
• Sexual Orientation 

Under the Equality Act, persons are not to be discriminated on the basis of these protected characteristics. This includes public and private sectors of society (for example: education, employment, and transportation). People are also not to be harassed or victimized based on the characteristics and services must be accessible to all. 

The Equality Act came into effect in October, 2010. All Acts of discrimination afterOctober 2010 will apply to the Equality Act. All Acts of discrimination before October 2010 will fall to the appropriate previous Acts. 

British Standard 8878

Under the British Royal Charter, the British Standards Institution Group (BSI Group) established a code of practice for web accessibility to issue self-regulating standards in 2010, known as British Standard 8878. It was established in response to the Equality Act of 2010’s non-discrimination policies. 

Websites contain barriers to people with disabilities. When users are unable to access content or interact with the website, they are being discriminated against. Standard 8878 applies to products that can be delivered by a web browser. This includes: websites, web services, and web-based applications. The codes of practice was written for designers, vendors, and trainers, as well as anyone who needs to or would like to learn how be accessible via the web. 

Standard 8878 is loosely based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), an internationally recognized set of website accessibility standards. The Standard focuses on making the web accessible to people with disabilities, the elderly, and people with learning difficulties. Instead of following only technical standards, the Standard encompasses the impact of establishing accessible web products. 

Communications Act

In 2003, the United Kingdom began enforcing the Communications Act, effectively replacing the Telecommunications Act of 1984. The focus of the Act was on the United Kingdom media and telecommunication sectors. The Act was enforced through four stages, from July to December 2003. Through the Communications Act, the Office of Communications was established and enforced during this period to be the regulatory authority of the act and it’s conditions. 

The Communications Act is sectioned into 6 parts: 

• Part 1: OFCOM Functions
• Part 2: Networks, Services, & Radio Spectrum
• Part 3: Television & Radio Services
• Part 4: Regulatory Provisions
• Part 5: Licensing of TV Reception
• Part 6: Miscellaneous & Supplemental 

Part 1: OFCOM

Through Part 1 of the Communications Act, the Office of Communications (OFCOM) was established and enforced during this period to be the regulatory authority of the Act and it’s conditions. OFCOM replaced five other regulatory bodies to become one regulatory body. They regulate airwaves that wireless devices operate, television, radio, video, fixed line telecoms, mobile, and postal services. 

OFCOM has the authority in which the Communications Act outlines. Authority includes, licensing, policies, and complaints of the communications sector. They have the authority to fine, suspend, or restrict communication providers based on complaints and investigation. OFCOM has the ability to conduct research and further communication matters. 

Parts 2 – 6

Summarized below is a general overview of parts 2-6 of the Communications Act. 

Part 2 of the Communications Act outlines the regulatory structure for independent television and radio services. Television services include teletext, multiplex, and digital television. Radio services include simulcast and multiplex broadcasting. Conditions in Part 2 apply to to providers of electronic communication services or network. An electronic communications service is a service the conveys signals with an electronic communications network. An electronic communications network is all transmission systems that are used to convey signals.

Part 3 of the Communications Act outlines the functions of OFCOM in relation to specific services, including the BBC, C4C, the Welsh Authority, and Gaelic Media Services and how they carry out their power and services. Pursuant to Part 3, the Communications Act delegates OFCOM to provide a code for people who are deaf or visually impaired in relations to accessibility services. 

Part 4 of the Communications Act outlines licensing and renewals for television, fees, enforcement of renewals, and dealer notification. 

Part 5 of the Communications Act outlines the competitive market between communications services and providers and how OFCOM and the Competition Act of 1998 applies. Competition includes media mergers. 

Part 6 of the Communications Act includes the requirement for an annual report, ownership review, OFCOM penalties, guidelines, fees

Code on Television Access Services

Accessibility is outlined in the Communications Act to have communications be accessible to a full spectrum of individuals, including people with disabilities. This includes development and use of electronic communications apparatus’. Services must provide television assistance for people with disabilities, such as subtitling, audio-descriptions, and sign language. Ofcom was required to establish a code describing how television providers must establish accessible services. 

Last updated in 2015, the Code on Television Access Services applies to licensed public service channels, digital television program services, television licensable content services, restricted television services and Welsh Authority digital television program services. OFCOM established 10 year target dates for the television access services based on percentages. 

By year 10 broadcaster’s content must be:

• 80% with subtitles, 
• 75 minutes of signing for monthly relevant channels, 
• 5% must be signing for annual other channels, and
• 10% must have audio description. 

Key Terms:

All definitions were defined using their respective acts, standards, and codes. 

Audio Description: “… a service primarily aimed at blind or visually-impaired people. It comprises a commentary woven around the soundtrack, exploiting pauses to explain on screen action, describe characters, locations, costumes, body language and facial expressions to enhance meaning and enjoyment for blind or visually impaired viewers.”

Combined Discrimination: “A person (A) discriminates against another (B) if, because of a combination of two relevant protected characteristics, A treats B less favourably than A treats or would treat a person who does not share either of those characteristics.”

Direct Discrimination: “A person (A) discriminates against another (B) if, because of a protected characteristic, A treats B less favourably [sic] than A treats or would treat others.”

Indirect Discrimination: “A person (A) discriminates against another (B) if A applies to B a provision, criterion or practice which is discriminatory in relation to a relevant protected characteristic of B’s.”

Relevant Protected Characteristics: “… age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.”

Sign Language: “… the use of manual gestures, facial expression and body language to convey meaning. British Sign Language (BSL) is the most popular sign language in the United Kingdom. This is a distinct language (recognised [sic] as such by the Government) with different syntax and vocabulary from English. In addition to different forms of sign language in other countries, Sign Supported English (which tends to follow the syntax and vocabulary of English) and Makaton (a simplified
form of sign language sometimes used with deaf children) are also used in the UK.

Subtitling: “… text on screen representing speech and sound effects that may not be audible to people with hearing impairments, synchronised [sic] as closely as possible to the sound.”

Source Materials:

BSI’s BS 8878:2010 Web Accessibility Code of Practice [PDF]

Communications Act 2003 [PDF]

Equality Act 2010

Ofcom’s Code on Television Access Services [PDF]