FCC Clarifies Closed Captioning Requirements for DTV Receivers

In the run-up to the nationwide transition to digital television scheduled for February 17, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has clarified its closed captioning requirements for distributors of video programming and for manufacturers of digital television receivers.

In a Declaratory Ruling, Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in November, the Commission has affirmed that there is no "digital exemption" from its current rules regarding the provisioning of captioning services intended to assist consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing, and that digital programming, including high definition digital programming, must be captioned.

The Commission also reminds manufacturers and distributors that digital-to-analog converter boxes must be capable of transmitting captioning information that can be decoded by analog televisions.

Finally, the FCC has also streamlined the process by which consumers can initiate complaints with programming distributors regarding problems with closed captioning services.

Our readers can view the complete text of the FCC Declaratory Ruling, Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding closed captioning at  this link.

The above article was reprinted with permission from Conformity Magazine

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