[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7368-7369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3264]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 79

[CG Docket No. 05-231; FCC 09-109]


Closed Captioning of Video Programming

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission amends the closed captioning 
rules to add another method by which video programming distributors may 
provide contact information to the Commission for the handling of 
immediate closed captioning concerns and written closed captioning 
complaints.

DATES: 47 CFR 79.1(i)(3), published at 74 FR 1594, January 13, 2009, 
and the revisions in this document are effective February 19, 2010.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
document FCC 09-109, Closed Captioning of Video Programming, CG Docket 
No. 05-231, Order, adopted December 4, 2009, and released December 11, 
2009. The full text of document FCC 09-109 and copies of any 
subsequently filed documents in this matter will be available for 
public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC 
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 
CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. Document FCC 09-109 and copies of 
subsequently filed documents in this matter also may be purchased from 
the Commission's duplicating contractor at Portals II, 445 12th Street, 
SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact the 
Commission's duplicating contractor at its Web site http://www.bcpiweb.com or by calling 1-800-378-3160.
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). 
Document FCC 09-109 also can be downloaded in Word or Portable Document 
Format (PDF) at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/caption.html.

Synopsis

    1. On November 7, 2008, the Commission released 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 (2008 Closed Captioning Order), published at 74 FR 1594, January 
13, 2009, which, among other things, requires video programming 
distributors to provide the Commission with contact information for the 
handling of immediate closed captioning concerns and written closed 
captioning complaints. Specifically, in a new Sec.  79.1(i)(3) of its 
rules, the Commission required video programming distributors to file 
the required contact information with the Chief of the Disability 
Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, or by sending 
the information to CLOSED[email protected].
    2. In anticipation of a large number of submissions and volume of 
information the Commission expects to receive, it has established an 
electronic webform as an additional method by which video programming 
distributors may submit their contact information to the Commission. To 
submit their contact information in this manner, video programming 
distributors will enter contact information in specific fields and, 
once submitted, this information will be available almost immediately 
for online searching by the public. This approach will promote 
compliance with the rule by facilitating the submission and 
availability of complete and accurate contact information. While video 
programming distributors may use any of the three methods described in 
Sec.  79.1(i)(3), the Commission encourages video programming 
distributors to submit their contact information through this online, 
self-service webform. Because this additional method of providing 
contact information was not provided for in the 2008 Closed Captioning 
Order or in Sec.  79.1(i)(3) of the Commission's rules, the Commission 
is amending Sec.  79.1(i)(3)

[[Page 7369]]

of its rules to allow for the filing of contact information through a 
webform.

Congressional Review Act

    The Commission has sent a copy of the document FCC 09-109 in a 
report to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office 
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act.

Ordering Clause

    Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 303(r) and 613, document FCC 09-109 
is adopted.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 79

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

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.

Rule Changes

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications 
Commission amends 47 CFR part 79 to read as follows:

PART 79--CLOSED CAPTIONING 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 amending by revising paragraph (i)(3) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  79.1  Closed captioning of video programming.

* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (3) Providing contact information to the Commission. Video 
programming distributors shall file the contact information described 
in this section with the Commission in one of the following ways: 
through a webform located on the FCC website; with the Chief of the 
Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau; or 
by sending an e-mail to CLOSED [email protected]. Contact 
information shall be available to consumers on the FCC Web site or by 
telephone inquiry to the Commission's Consumer Center. Distributors 
shall notify the Commission each time there is a change in any of this 
required information within 10 business days.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2010-3264 Filed 2-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P