Agencija poslej pristojna za nadzor nad dostopnostjo elektronskih komunikacijskih in avdiovizualnih medijskih storitev ter storitev e-knjige

The Agency for Communication Networks and Services of the Republic of Slovenia informs the public that it is now also responsible for monitoring the implementation of additional accessibility conditions for providers of access to electronic communications and audiovisual media services (AVMS) and e-book services. On 28 June 2025, the Accessibility of Products and Services for Persons with Disabilities Act (ZDPSI) came into force, which sets out the innovations that providers of these services must introduce to make their services more accessible to persons with disabilities. It also gave the Agency the power to check that they comply with these new legal requirements. The Agency therefore explains what these essential innovations are, which must now be provided by operators, i.e. providers of electronic communications services, broadcasters and providers of on-demand audiovisual media services and e-book providers.

Under existing legislation, they already provide certain services or tools to enable disabled people to use services in a non-discriminatory way. The ZDPSI imposes additional tools on operators, such as the need to allow voice communication and the use of non-voice communication, i.e. SMS, video and real-time text recording. They must allow full conversation services where video is available in addition to voice. Emergency communication using voice and text shall be synchronised. Where video is available for emergency communication, the communication will need to be synchronised in the form of a full conversation service and operators are obliged to forward it to the most appropriate PSAP.

There are also obligations already in place in the area of AVMS availability. However, under the ZDPSI, broadcasters are required to introduce electronic programme guides which must be perceptible, usable, comprehensible and reliable and provide information on the availability of accessibility features. For AVMS accessibility tools, which are subtitles, audio descriptions, spoken subtitles and sign language interpretation, the law stipulates that they must be provided in an appropriate quality that allows for accurate display, synchronisation with audio and video, and that users are able to control the display and the use of the service. More detailed conditions regarding subtitles, audio descriptions, interpretation are defined in the regulation on more detailed conditions regarding accessibility of services providing access to audiovisual media services for persons with disabilities.

When providing e-book services, providers must, inter alia, ensure synchronised text and sound, where the e-book also contains audio, e-books must not interfere with the proper functioning of assistive technology, and access to the content of e-books and searches of the content and layout of the e-book will have to be ensured.

The law provides for exceptions. These obligations do not apply to micro-enterprises and certain transitional periods are foreseen.

The Agency stresses that its primary focus is on preventive action, raising awareness among service providers in all the areas listed above, and raising awareness among users, as it is aware of the importance of an inclusive digital society for all citizens, including vulnerable groups. The Agency also identifies awareness-raising as one of its important priorities. The Agency also has the power to monitor the implementation of disability rights in some other areas of its work, and all information on this is available to users online.