[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46703-46704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21796]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 79

[CG Docket No. 05-231 and ET Docket No. 99-254; DA 09-1373]


Closed Captioning of Video Programming; Closed Captioning 
Requirements for Digital Television Receivers

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission is correcting a final 
rule that appeared in the Federal Register on January 13, 2009, 74 FR 
1594. That document described new procedures for closed captioning 
complaints and requirements that video programming distributors provide 
contact information for handling closed captioning immediate concerns 
and complaints.

DATES: This rule contains information collection requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law 104-13, that 
have not been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 
The Commission will publish a separate document in the Federal Register 
announcing the effective date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amelia Brown, Disability Rights 
Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-2799 
(voice), (202) 418-7804 (TTY), or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In Closed Captioning of Video Programming; Closed Captioning 
Requirements for Digital Television Receivers, CG Docket No. 05-231, ET 
Docket No. 99-254, Declaratory Ruling, Order, and Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, FCC 08-255, published at 74 FR 1594, January 13, 2009, the 
Commission amended various of its, and adopted new, closed captioning 
rules.

Need for Correction

    This correction is necessary to clarify new 47 CFR 79.1(i)(1).

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 79

    Cable television operators, Multichannel video programming 
distributors (MVPDs), Satellite television service providers, 
Television broadcasters.

0
Accordingly, 47 CFR Part 79 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendment:

PART 79--CLOSED CAPTIONING AND VIDEO DESCRIPTION OF VIDEO 
PROGRAMMING

0
1. The authority citation for Part 79 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 152(a), 154(i), 303, 307, 309, 310, 
613.


0
2. Section 79.1 is amended by revising paragraph (i)(1) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  79.1  Closed captioning of video programming.

* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (1) Video programming distributors shall make available contact 
information for the receipt and handling of immediate closed captioning 
concerns raised by consumers while they are watching a program. 
Programming distributors must designate a telephone number, fax number, 
and e-mail address for purposes of receiving and responding immediately 
to any closed captioning concerns. Distributors shall

[[Page 46704]]

include this information on their Web sites (if they have a Web site), 
in telephone directories, and in billing statements (to the extent the 
distributor issues billing statements). Distributors shall keep this 
information current and update it to reflect any changes within 10 
business days for Web sites, by the next billing cycle for billing 
statements, and by the next publication of directories. Video 
programming distributors should ensure that any staff reachable through 
this contact information has the capability to immediately respond to 
and address consumers' concerns. To the extent that a distributor has 
personnel available, either on site or remotely, to address any 
technical problems that may arise, consumers using this dedicated 
contact information must be able to reach someone, either directly or 
indirectly, who can address the consumer's captioning concerns. This 
provision does not require that distributors alter their hours of 
operation or the hours during which they have staffing available; at 
the same time, however, where staff is available to address technical 
issues that may arise during the course of transmitting programming, 
they also must be knowledgeable about and be able to address closed 
captioning concerns. In situations where a distributor is not 
immediately available, any calls or inquiries received, using this 
dedicated contact information, should be returned or otherwise 
addressed within 24 hours. In those situations where the captioning 
problem does not reside with the distributor, the staff person 
receiving the inquiry should refer the matter appropriately for 
resolution.''
* * * * *

Mark Stone,
Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal 
Communications Commission.
[FR Doc. E9-21796 Filed 9-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P