Closed Captioning of Video Programming
Key claim: Public, educational, and government (PEG) programmers who only feed already-exempt PEG channels no longer have to register with the FCC or certify closed-captioning compliance, and programmers on nonbroadcast cable/MVPD networks are likewise excused from certifying when the network itself certifies that its lineup is exempt or caption-compliant.
Abstract
(Rule · Federal Communications Commission) In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) exempts video programmers for public, educational, and governmental access (PEG) channels from the requirement to register with the Commission and to certify captioning compliance if the PEG video programmers provide video programming exclusively to PEG channels that are exempt from closed captioning requirements. Additionally, providers of PEG programming are relieved of filing obligations if the administrators of non-exempt PEG channels certify compliance for programming carried on such channels. The Commission similarly exempts providers of programming carried on nonbroadcast networks for distribution by a cable operator or other multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) from certifying when the nonbroadcast network itself certifies that it is exempt or that all programming comprising the network’s linear line-up is either exempt from or compliant with the closed captioning rules.
Why this matters
Closed-captioning paperwork has long swept in small programmers whose content was already exempt from captioning, generating FCC filings with no accessibility payoff. This narrow relief removes duplicate certifications for PEG channels and for programmers riding on networks that already certify, while leaving the Communications Act’s captioning mandates intact. The practical effect is lower compliance burden for community and niche programmers without changing what consumers see on screen.