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Closed Captioning – Update
By advocacy | November 21, 2006
Hundreds of deaf and hard of hearing consumers took action. They protested the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) decision to approve almost 300 requests for new TV programs to be shown without closed captions. Consumers sent hundreds of e-mails to the FCC Chairman, Commissioners, and staff.
Your advocacy efforts were successful.
The FCC scanned hundreds of documents and made these documents available to the public through the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). These documents are all related to requests for waivers from the closed captioning rules. To see these documents, go to http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi and search for documents under “Proceeding†06-181. Documents related to a specific request can by found by typing a 4-digit case identifier number (0001 through 0621) in the “File Number/Community†box on the search form.
On October 12, 2006, the NAD, along with TDI and other consumer advocacy groups, filed an “Application for Review†asking the FCC to rescind the September 12, 2006 order and rescind all waivers that were based on that order, and to take other actions. The “Application for Review†is available online in the FCC’s ECFS system at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi by searching for “Proceeding†06-181 and “Document Type†AR.
Representatives from the NAD, along with TDI and other consumer advocacy groups, met with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and FCC Commissioners to discuss these recent FCC actions.
On November 7, 2006, the FCC issued a Public Notice that identified 494 requests for waiver of the closed captioning rules that had not before been made available (posted on Public Notice) for public comment. See http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/caption.html. The FCC also announced many of the requests for waiver listed in the Public Notice were granted in September, but those grants are now in “abeyance†(suspended) until the comment period ends. The Public Notice invited comments, but limited the comment period to 20 days.
Meanwhile, deaf and hard of hearing consumers continued to take action. This time, information was shared through advocacy blogs. For example, Jamie Berke at http://berkeoutspoken.blogspot.com identified and sorted the list of 494 requests for waivers by state and invited consumers to generate and send e-mail messages to the FCC Chairman and Commissioners. Consumers responded by sending more e-mails and kept the pressure on the FCC to address our concerns about closed captioning.
Again, your advocacy efforts were successful.
In another meeting with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and representatives of consumer advocacy groups, the Chairman agreed that more time would be given to respond to the 494 requests now open for comment. Chairman Martin also assured us that each request for waiver from the closed captioning rules will be analyzed individually.
On November 17, 2006, the NAD, along with TDI and other consumer advocacy groups, filed a “Motion for Extension of Time.†A copy of that Motion is available at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi by searching for “Proceeding†06-181 and “Document Type†MN. We requested a 120-day extension and permission for consumers and other consumer advocacy groups to file comments electronically (rather than print, copy, and mail comments). We expect the FCC will respond soon to our request and we will learn how much time we have to file comments and whether comments can be filed electronically.
In the meantime, we are reviewing each of the 494 requests for waiver from the closed captioning rules. We are preparing a list with key information to help us prepare our comments. This list may be shared to help consumers and other consumer advocacy groups prepare and file comments.
We expect to provide more information about filing comments soon.
Your continued advocacy efforts are needed. Stay tuned.
Topics: General |
November 21st, 2006 at 5:36 pm
Thank you!
I’m member of NRB and will attend NRB in Florida this coming Feb 17-21, 2006. I just learned that Joni and Friends Ministries (disabilities) supported NRB on CC exemptions. It really made me so mad!!!!
Why? She did not do her homework with Deaf Leaders from the churches or to hear the other side of our (I mean Deaf) story!
Jewish Temple in Beverly Hills, CA asked FCC for CC exemption… That’s make a sense that we need to stop!
October 1st, 2007 at 3:45 pm
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