The new FCC rules mandating closed captioning for certain video programming found on the internet is in response to legislation — the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 – and the adoption was applauded by bill author Ed Markey (D-MA), who nevertheless underscored his desire to make sure the rules apply to clips and snippets of covered programming, not just entire programs.
Markey stated, “The FCC’s rule appropriately recognizes that uncaptioned, archival online programming must be captioned to ensure greater access to this programming for Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing, consistent with the CVAA. The rule’s deadlines for captioning this programming should provide adequate time for compliance, and it my hope that the captioning could be completed even sooner than required.”
Markey continued, “Americans increasingly are accessing news, entertainment and other types of information through online video segments excerpted from full-length televised programming. I believe that such segments should not be considered ‘video clips’ and therefore exempt from IP-captioning requirements. Accordingly, I strongly encourage the Commission to closely monitor whether the exclusion of these segments from the captioning mandate is curtailing access to news and other information by Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing, and if it is, reconsider today’s rule to remedy this problem.”
The FCC has all the details in its full Report and Order released 1/17/12.
