“This page is a digitally archived AccessInfo Announcement”
On January 13, 2012, the FCC released a Report and Order adopting rules for closed captioning of video programming delivered using Internet protocol (the “IP closed captioning rules”). These new closed captioning rules were published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2012, and will generally become effective 30 days later, on April 30, 2012.
The IP closed captioning rules apply to non-exempt full-length programming and will be implemented according to the following schedule:
· pre-recorded programming that is not edited for Internet distribution must be captioned if it is shown on television with captions on or after September 30, 2012.
· live and near-live programming must be captioned if it is shown on television with captions on or after March 30,
2013. Near-live programming is video programming that is performed and recorded less than 24 hours prior to the time it was first shown on television.
· pre-recorded programming that is edited for Internet distribution must be captioned if it is shown on television with captions on or after September 30, 2013.
· programming that is already in the video programming distributor’s or provider’s library before it is shown on television with captions must be captioned:
o Within 45 days after it is shown on television with captions on or after March 30, 2014 and before March 30,
2015;
o Within 30 days after it is shown on television with captions on or after March 30, 2015 and before March 30,
2016; and
o Within 15 days after it is shown on television with captions on or after March 30, 2016.
The Commission also adopted new closed captioning requirements for equipment designed to receive, play back, or record video programming (such as televisions, set-top boxes, computers, smartphones, tablets, DVD players, and digital video recorders). These rules apply to equipment manufactured or imported into the United States on or after January 1, 2014.
For further questions, please contact Diana Sokolow at (202) 418-2120 or Jeffrey Neumann at (202) 418-7000.