[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 12, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9963-9964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5823]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Chapter I

[MM Docket No. 95-176, FCC 96-71]


Closed Captioning and Video Description of Video Programming

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of time.

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SUMMARY: Section 305 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 adds a new 
section 713, Video Programming Accessibility, to the Communications Act 
of 1934, as amended. Section 713 requires the Commission to conduct 
inquiries and report to Congress on the availability of video 
programming with closed captioning and video descriptions. Prior to the 
enactment of Section 713 on February 8, 1996, the Commission initiated 
a Notice of Inquiry addressing the issues and seeking information on 
closed captioning and video description, as is now required by Section 
713. This Order announces the Commission's intent to use the comments 
in the existing proceeding to implement Section 713 and to extend the 
comment dates to ensure that sufficient time is provided to respond to 
the legislative directive.

DATES: Comments are due on or before March 15, 1996, and reply comments 
are due on or before April 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcia A. Glauberman, Cable Services 
Bureau, (202) 416-0800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's Order 
in MM Docket No. 95-176, FCC 96-71, adopted February 27, 1996, and 
released on February 27, 1996. The full text of the Order is available 
for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 
20554, and may also be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, 
International Transcription Service (``ITS, Inc.''), (202) 857-3800, 
2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037.

Synopsis of the Order

    1. Section 305 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-
104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996), adds a new section 713, Video Programming 
Accessibility, to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (``Act''). 
Section 713(a) requires the Commission to complete an inquiry within 
180 days of the date of enactment (February 8, 1996) to ascertain the 
level at which video programming is closed captioned. A report on the 
results of this inquiry shall be submitted to Congress. Within 18 
months of enactment, the Commission is required to establish 
regulations and implementation schedules to ensure that video 
programming is fully accessible through closed captioning consistent 
with Section 713 (b) through (e). Section 713(f) requires the 
Commission to commence an inquiry within six months after the date of 
enactment to examine the use of video descriptions on video programming 
to ensure the accessibility of video programming to persons with visual 
impairments.
    2. Prior to the date of enactment, the Commission issued a Notice 
of Inquiry (``Notice''), summarized at 60 FR 65052 (December 18, 1995), 
seeking comment on a wide range of issues relating to closed captioning 
and video description of video programming. Since the existing Notice 
addresses the issues that the Commission must explore in the inquiries 
required by Section 713, the Commission has determined that separate 
proceedings are unnecessary to implement these provisions of the Act.
    3. The Order announces the Commission's intent to use the

[[Page 9964]]
comments in the existing proceeding to implement Section 713. It also 
extends the comment period until March 15, 1996, and the reply comment 
period until April 1, 1996, to provide parties with an opportunity to 
refine their comments and to focus on the specific information needed 
to implement Section 713 of the Act.

Ordering Clauses

    4. It is ordered, that the time for filing comments in the above-
captioned proceeding is extended to March 15, 1996, and the time for 
filing reply comments is extended to April 1, 1996.
    5. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in Sections 
4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 154(i) and 303(r), and Section 305 of the Telecommunications Act 
of 1996, Pub. L. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996).

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-5823 Filed 3-11-96; 8:45 am]
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