The FCC has begun a proceeding to assess how its closed captioning rules are succeeding in ensuring that video programming is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing TV viewers and whether any revisions should be made to enhance the effectiveness of those rules.
The commission last week asked for comments on several compliance and quality issues relating to closed captioning that were raised in a Petition for Rulemaking filed by Telecommunications for the Deaf, the National Association of the Deaf, Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, the Association for Late Deafened Adults, and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network.
The current closed captioning rules have been in place since Jan. 1, 1998. The commission wants to know if there’s a need to adopt new standards for non-technical quality of closed captioning, such as accuracy of transcription; if there’s a need for additional procedures to prevent and remedy technical problems in captioning; and whether specific mechanisms should be in place for monitoring and maintenance of captions.
For additional information, visit www.fcc.gov.
