In short
Act 266-2018, as amended, provides that every visual advertisement and publicity containing sound — whether acquired, purchased, created, placed or otherwise produced by, or for use by, any governmental entity of any of the three branches of government — must have a visual of a sign language interpreter within its content communicating the idea the advertisement’s or publicity’s soundtrack conveys. The interpreter’s visual must be no smaller than one third of the total size of the publicity’s visual taken as a whole, so that the gestures and expressions of the signs can be clearly seen by the deaf viewer, and every visual government communication covered by this Act must include subtitles — closed captioning, visual display or open captioning. The interpreter used must hold a current State licence or certification recognizing their expertise. Other sound elements incidental to the message may be reproduced visually if interpreting them is not necessary as the main part of the message. In addition, all news programs broadcast by the Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation on all its channels must have a sign language interpreter, whose image must be visible at all times and appear on screen at a size and resolution allowing viewers, at normal viewing distance, to clearly see and accurately recognize all movements and facial expressions.
What is it?
It is the government information access law for deaf people, and its value is that its requirements are measurable. It does not say “make it accessible”: it says an interpreter within the content, no smaller than one third of the visual, licensed or currently certified, and subtitles always. That turns “there was an interpreter in the corner” into something checkable.
Who can do it?
Any deaf or hard-of-hearing viewer, and generally anyone who wants to verify compliance. Those bound are the governmental entities of any of the three branches with respect to visual publicity with sound that they acquire, purchase, create, place or otherwise produce or have produced for their use; and the Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation with respect to its news programs.
Requirements
- That it be a visual advertisement or publicity containing sound, acquired, purchased, created, placed or otherwise produced by, or for use by, a governmental entity of any of the three branches of government.Verified against the official source
Documents you need
Information pending verification.
Cost
Step by step
Step 1: The one-third screen rule
It is the law’s most concrete requirement and the most breached: the sign language interpreter’s visual within the publicity must be “no smaller than one third of the total size of the publicity’s visual taken as a whole,” so that the gestures and expressions of the signs can be clearly seen by the deaf viewer. A small box in a corner does not meet that standard.
Step 2: The interpreter goes inside the content, not separately
The text requires that the ad “have a visual of a sign language interpreter within its content communicating the idea the soundtrack conveys.” It is not an alternate video or an accessible version at another link: it is the same ad, with the interpreter inside it.
Step 3: Subtitles are in addition, not instead
The same section that sets the one-third rule adds: every visual government communication covered by this Act must include subtitles — closed captioning, visual display or open captioning. Adding subtitles does not excuse omitting the interpreter, or the other way round.
Step 4: The interpreter must be licensed or certified
The sign language interpreter used in every Government of Puerto Rico communication covered by this Act must hold a current State licence or certification recognizing their expertise. Someone merely knowing sign language is not enough.
Step 5: It reaches all three branches and what is commissioned
The wording closes the exits: the ad may have been “acquired, purchased, created, placed or otherwise produced by, or for use by, any governmental entity of any of the three branches of government.” That a contracted advertising agency made it does not take it out of scope.
Step 6: News on the Public Broadcasting Corporation
The section added by Act 111-2022 is separate and also measurable: all news programs broadcast by the Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation on all its channels must have a sign language interpreter. The image must conform to the established schemes of the standard definition television context, and must be visible at all times, at a size and resolution allowing viewers, at normal viewing distance, to clearly see and accurately recognize all the interpreter’s movements and facial expressions.
Step 7: Incidental sound may go in text
The law leaves reasonable room: other sound elements incidental to the message may be reproduced visually in the publicity in question, if interpreting them is not necessary as the main part of the message to be communicated. That is, background music does not require interpretation; the message does.
Where to do it
Here we must be direct: this law designates no enforcing agency and creates no complaint procedure. In practice, the claim goes to the governmental entity that placed the ad, and the bill of rights for persons with disabilities and the protective order for persons with disabilities are the general routes that do have a procedure. If your matter is a deaf student at school, that is a different law with its own guide.
How long it takes
What to do if something goes wrong
This law’s most important limit is what it does not carry: it sets no penalty, designates no overseeing agency and creates no complaint procedure. We say that as a limit of the statute, not a gap of ours, and that is why we do not send you to a forum the law does not name. What it does give you is a measurable standard you can cite in writing to the entity that placed the ad. What we did not read: Act 111-2022 beyond the section the compilation identifies as added by it; any implementing regulation; and the federal ADA, so we do not compare with federal law or describe federal remedies. Nor did we read the rules on interpreter licences or certifications, so we do not publish how to verify that an interpreter holds the current certification the law requires.
Common mistakes
- Accepting a small box: the interpreter may not be smaller than one third of the full visual.
- Accepting subtitles alone: the law requires the interpreter in addition to subtitles.
- Accepting a separate accessible video: the interpreter goes inside the same ad’s content.
- Assuming a contracted ad agency is outside: the law covers what is produced “by, or for” the governmental entity.
- Thinking it applies only to the Executive: it covers any of the three branches of government.
- Looking for a fine in this law: it sets none, and designates no overseeing agency.
Frequently asked questions
How large must the interpreter be on screen?
No smaller than one third of the total size of the publicity’s visual taken as a whole, so that the gestures and expressions of the signs can be clearly seen by the deaf viewer.
Are subtitles enough?
No. The law requires the sign language interpreter’s visual within the content and, in addition, that every visual government communication covered by it include subtitles: closed captioning, visual display or open captioning.
Must public channel news have an interpreter?
Yes. All news programs broadcast by the Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation on all its channels must have a sign language interpreter, visible at all times and at a size and resolution allowing accurate recognition of their movements and facial expressions at normal viewing distance.
What fine applies for non-compliance?
The law sets none. Nor does it designate an enforcing agency or create a complaint procedure; what it establishes is the standard.
Official sources
These are the government pages this guide is based on.
- Portal de Servicios del Gobierno de Puerto Rico (PR.gov)
PR.gov
bvirtualogp.pr.gov
- Government of Puerto Rico portal
Gobierno de Puerto Rico
www.pr.gov
Last verified
August 24, 2026
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