Federal Communications Commission Releases Report and Order on Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming

January 20, 2012

On January 13, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission released a Report and Order adopting rules to implement certain closed captioning provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA).

The Commission adopted rules that require video programming that is shown on television with closed captions after the effective date of the rules to be closed captioned when delivered using Internet protocol (IP). These rules will be phased in over a two-year period.

The Commission also adopted rules that require equipment designed to receive or play back video programming (such as televisions, set-top boxes, computers, smartphones, and tablets) to be equipped with built-in closed caption decoder circuitry or capability to display closed-captioned video programming. Equipment that uses a picture screen that is 13 inches or smaller and devices designed to record video programming must comply only if doing so is achievable (with reasonable effort or expense). These rules apply to equipment manufactured or imported into the United States on or after January 1, 2014.

Report and Order:
Word (112 pages)
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0113/FCC-12-9A1.doc

PDF (112 pages)
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0113/FCC-12-9A1.pdf

Text
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0113/FCC-12-9A1.txt

News source: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)