This week, the FCC announced that March 30 will be the effective date for amending hearing aid compatibility (HAC) rules. These rules, published in the Federal Register on March 6, were designed to allow those who are hard of hearing to have access to the national telecommunications network and to further implement the Twenty-First Century … Continue Reading
Modified programmer compliance certifications, complaint procedures, to take effect September 22, 2016 For nearly two decades the FCC has been working to insure that television programming is appropriately accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing through closed captioning technology. In 2014 it finally got around to developing quality control standards which it applied not … Continue Reading
Commission seeks comment on steps to improve, expand accessibility of video-described programming Way back at the dawn of the century (the 21st Century, that is), the FCC adopted rules requiring video providers to include “video descriptions” in their transmission. “Video description” involves the insertion, into natural pauses in the program’s dialogue, of audio-narrated descriptions of … Continue Reading
New captioning rules set to take effect early next year do not directly reach many, if not most, "video programmers". The FCC is considering ways to address that circumstance.… Continue Reading
For the last year or so, the law has required a sizable chunk of U.S. video programming displayed on the Internet to be closed captioned. The FCC is now thinking about expanding that requirement.… Continue Reading
For some time already many, if not most, communications service providers and equipment makers have had to ensure accessibility to the disabled; now they've got to keep records of those efforts AND separately certify to the FCC that they're in fact keeping those records.… Continue Reading
The FCC has extended the deadline for reply comments in the proceeding concerning possible expansion of the obligations of video providers with respect to emergency information.… Continue Reading
The FCC is looking to expand its existing rules to require that video providers transmit emergency information aurally using the secondary audio stream.… Continue Reading
The captioning requirements will apply only to programming that was previously shown with captions over traditional media such as broadcast or cable. But they represent a stunning expansion of FCC jurisdiction over a vast host of consumer devices not previously regulated. Device manufacturers may well become alarmed.… Continue Reading
Let's have a big "welcome back" for the video description rules - gone for years, but Congress figured it was time to bring them back and now, voilà!… Continue Reading
Last week we reported on a proposal to expand the requirement that VoIP providers contribute to the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund. Deadlines for comments on that proposal have now been set.… Continue Reading
At Congress's direction, the FCC is moving forward with proposals that would (a) substantially increase regulatory burdens on VoIP providers and (b) immerse the Commission in areas that aren't exactly within its area of expertise.… Continue Reading
The Wireless Bureau is asking commenters in the hearing aid compliance proceeding to address the effect of the 21CenComVidAccAct on the FCC's proposals there. But heads up - the deadline for comments is fast approaching.… Continue Reading
The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 is now the law of the land. Get set for a new set of sweeping changes cutting across all components of the communications universe, broadband and broadcast alike.… Continue Reading
