[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64592-64594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25828]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CG Docket No. 13-318; DA 14-1487]


Notice of Electronic Filing Procedures for Closed Captioning 
Exemption Requests for Video Programming Delivered Using Internet 
Protocol (IP)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission announces electronic filing 
procedures for petitions for exemption from the Commission's closed 
captioning requirements for video programming delivered using Internet

[[Page 64593]]

protocol (IP). This announcement notifies the public of the filing 
procedures for all individual closed captioning exemption petitions for 
IP-delivered video programming, all comments and oppositions responsive 
to such petitions, and all replies to comments or oppositions to such 
petitions, which the Commission's rules require be filed 
electronically.

DATES: The Commission's new electronic filing procedures regarding 
petitions for exemption from the Commission's closed captioning rules 
for IP-delivered video programming will take effect on December 1, 
2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzy Rosen Singleton, Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, (202) 510-9446, 
email: [email protected]; or Caitlin Vogus, Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, (202) 418-1264, 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
Notice, document DA 14-1487, released on October 14, 2014. The full 
text of document DA 14-1487, and any subsequently filed documents in 
this matter will be available for public inspection and copying via 
ECFS, and during regular business hours at the FCC Reference 
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, 
Washington, DC 20554. It also may be purchased from the Commission's 
duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 
12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone: (800) 
378-3160, fax: (202) 488-5563, or Internet: www.bcpiweb.com. Document 
DA 13-2190 can also be downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format 
(PDF) at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/closed-captioning-video-programming-delivered-using-internet-protocol-ip. To request materials 
in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large 
print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] 
or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 
(voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Synopsis

    1. In document DA 14-1487, the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB or Bureau) announces electronic filing 
procedures for petitions for exemption from the Commission's closed 
captioning requirements for video programming delivered using Internet 
protocol (IP). On January 12, 2012, the Commission released the IP 
Closed Captioning Order adopting rules that require, among other 
things, that all individual closed captioning exemption petitions for 
IP-delivered video programming, all comments and oppositions responsive 
to such petitions, and all replies to comments or oppositions to such 
petitions be filed electronically. Closed Captioning of Internet 
Protocol-Delivered Video Programming: Implementation of the Twenty-
First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, MB 
Docket No. 11-154, Report and Order (IP Closed Captioning Order); 
published at 77 FR 19479, March 30, 2012.
    2. Exemption Petitions. In order to file a petition for exemption 
from the IP closed captioning rules electronically, the petitioner must 
send the petition, together with documentation supporting such a 
petition, via email to [email protected]. Petitions must be 
filed electronically by email and may not be filed via the Commission's 
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). At this time, the Commission's 
email system does not accept attachments in the form of .ZIP files or 
file sizes larger than 13.3 megabytes. If a petitioner has concerns 
that its file size will exceed this limitation, it may contact 
Commission staff. Upon receipt of a petition, the Commission will send 
an acknowledgement to the petitioner by email. The Commission will also 
assign a case identifier number (for example, ``CGB-CC-2345'') to the 
petition. This case identifier number and the reference to ``CG Docket 
No. 13-318'' must be included on all correspondence with the Commission 
regarding the petition, including any supplemental information to 
support the petition and subsequent pleadings in response to comments 
on or oppositions to the petition.
    3. Once the petitioner provides the required information and 
documentation to the Commission, the petition will be placed on public 
notice, pursuant to the Commission's rules, to permit interested 
parties to file comments on or oppositions to the petition. The 
Commission will make the petition, as well as any supporting 
information and documentation provided, available for public inspection 
in the Commission's Reference Information Center and through ECFS at 
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Because petitions and any supporting 
information and documentation provided by email to 
[email protected] will be uploaded to ECFS by the Commission, 
petitioners must follow the ECFS document format guidelines available 
at http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/userManual/upload/documents.jsp when 
submitting petitions and any supporting information and documentation 
via email. Petitioners are encouraged not to include personally 
sensitive information in their petitions, such as social security 
numbers, bank account and routing numbers, and other similarly 
sensitive information. If a petitioner nevertheless includes such 
sensitive information in its filing, it must redact (remove or conceal 
with black ink) such information from its submission. Unless otherwise 
directed by the petitioner, anything in the body of the petitioner's 
email will not be considered as part of the petition; rather only the 
attachments will be considered as part of the petition and posted on 
ECFS. If the petitioner wishes to also include content contained in the 
body of the email as part of the petition, which will be posted on 
ECFS, it should state so in the email.
    4. Confidential Treatment. A petitioner may request confidential 
treatment of any information contained in or submitted in support of 
its petition. A petitioner seeking such treatment for any such 
information must submit, via email to [email protected], a 
written request for confidential treatment and two versions of the 
petition: (1) A confidential version that contains the complete, 
unredacted submission; and (2) a public version that redacts any 
claimed confidential information. A request for confidential treatment 
may not be filed via ECFS. The request must comply with the 
requirements of 47 CFR 0.459, including: (a) Identification of the 
specific information submitted for which confidential treatment is 
sought; (b) a statement of the reasons for withholding those materials 
from public inspection; and (c) an explanation of how public disclosure 
of the information could result in substantial competitive harm. The 
request must show by a preponderance of the evidence that nondisclosure 
is consistent with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. 
Mere conclusory or generalized allegations cannot support a request for 
nondisclosure. In light of the Commission's desire for openness in its 
exemption petition review processes, if the Bureau determines that 
members of the public should have access to portions of a filing that 
the petitioner asserts are confidential, it may allow such access 
pursuant to a protective order. To help achieve such openness where a 
petitioner has sought confidentiality of certain information

[[Page 64594]]

submitted in support of its petition, the petitioner should, to the 
extent possible, include in its petition the non-sensitive supporting 
information contained in the confidential materials so that members of 
the public may review, consider, and comment on the petition.
    5. Comments and Oppositions. Comments on or oppositions to a 
petition must be filed electronically via ECFS at http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/begin?filedFrom=E. The ``ECFS Express'' form cannot be used 
for the filing of comments or oppositions. If the submission is sent to 
the Commission only by email, the Commission will upload the submission 
to ECFS. Comments or oppositions filed via ECFS must include ``13-318'' 
as the ``Proceeding Number'' on the ECFS form. In addition, filers must 
enter the four-digit case identifier number (e.g., ``CC-2345'') as the 
``File Number'' on the ECFS form. If a filer wishes to file an 
identical set of comments or oppositions via ECFS on multiple petitions 
that have been assigned more than one case identifier number, the 
comments or oppositions must be filed separately for each petition/case 
identifier number. In such a case, a different case identifier number 
will have to be entered as the ``File Number'' for each separate filing 
(e.g., ``CC-2345'' entered as the File Number for the first filing and 
``CC-2346'' entered as the File Number for the second filing and so on, 
even if the comments or oppositions being filed are identical to the 
first filing). Multiple case identifier numbers may not be entered as 
one ``File Number.''
    6. Replies. Replies to comments on or oppositions to a petition 
must be filed electronically via ECFS at http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/begin?filedFrom=E. The ``ECFS Express'' form cannot be used for 
this purpose. If the submission is sent to the Commission only by 
email, the Commission will upload the submission to ECFS. Replies must 
include ``13-318'' as the ``Proceeding Number'' and the four-digit case 
identifier number (e.g., ``CC-2345'') as the ``File Number'' in this 
proceeding. If a filer wishes to file an identical set of replies via 
ECFS on multiple petitions that have been assigned more than one case 
identifier number, the replies must be filed separately for each 
petition/case identifier number. In this case, a different case 
identifier number will have to be entered as the ``File Number'' for 
each separate filing (e.g., ``CC-2345'' entered as the File Number for 
the first filing and ``CC-2346'' entered as the File Number for the 
second filing and so on, even if the replies being filed are identical 
to the first filing). Multiple case identifier numbers may not be 
entered as one ``File Number.''

Federal Communications Commission.
Gregory Hlibok,
Chief, Disability Rights Office.
[FR Doc. 2014-25828 Filed 10-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P