PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 14-1896 Released: December 29, 2014 Notice of Effective Dates of OMB-Approved Rules Pertaining to the Closed Captioning Quality Report and Order and Declaratory Ruling CG Docket No. 05-231 On February 24, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released the Closed Captioning Quality Order, which adopted closed captioning quality standards and technical compliance rules to ensure that video programming is fully accessible to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing through the provision of closed captioning.1 On April 3, 2014, the Commission announced a series of effective dates for some of the requirements of the Closed Captioning Quality Order.2 Certain other requirements had effective dates upon publication in the Federal Register of a notice announcing the approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of modified information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA)3 and an effective date of the rule amendment.4 On December 18, 2014, OMB approved the information collection requirements for a period of three years,5 and an announcement of such approval was published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2014,6 that the following rules will take effect on March 16, 2015: · Maintenance of records of video programming distributors’ monitoring and maintenance activities;7 · Procedures relating to informal complaints regarding use of the Electronic Newsroom Technique (ENT);8 · Compliance procedures relating to use of ENT;9 1 Closed Captioning of Video Programming; Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. Petition for Rulemaking, CG Docket No. 05-231, Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 29 FCC Rcd 2221 (2014) (Closed Captioning Quality Order). The Closed Captioning Quality Order is also available on the Commission’s website at http://www.fcc.gov/document/closed-captioning-quality-report- and-order-declaratory-ruling-fnprm. 2 Notice of Effective Dates of Closed Captioning Quality Report and Order and Declaratory Ruling, and Announcement of Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines for Related Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CG Docket No. 05-231, Public Notice, 29 FCC Rcd 3656 (CGB 2014). 3 Public Law No. 104-13, 109 Stat. 163 (May 22, 1995), codified at 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501 et seq. 4 Closed Captioning Quality Order, 29 FCC Rcd at 2314, ¶ 181. 5 OMB Control Number 3060-0761. 6 Federal Communications Commission, 47 CFR Part 79, 79 FR 77916 (Dec. 29, 2014). 7 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(c)(3). 8 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(e)(11)(iii). 2· The one-time ENT progress report, which is due no later than June 30, 2015;10 · Rules containing captioning quality obligations and standards;11 and · Captioning Best Practices.12 People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Eliot Greenwald, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, 202-418-2235 or email Eliot.Greenwald@fcc.gov. -FCC- 9 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(e)(11)(iv). 10 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(e)(11)(v) (requiring that no later than one year after the effective date of 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(e)(11), broadcast stations that adhere to the Captioning Best Practices, jointly prepare and submit to the Commission, in consultation with individuals who rely on captions and organizations representing such individuals, a report on the experiences of broadcast stations with following such procedures, and the extent to which they have been successful in providing full and equal access to live programming). Because the substantive portions of 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(e)(11), i.e., 47 C.F.R. §§ 79.1(e)(11)(i) and (ii), became effective on June 30, 2014, the due date of the progress report shall be no later than June 30, 2015. See FCC, 47 CFR Part 79, Final Rule, 79 FR 17911, 17926 (Mar. 31, 2014). 11 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(j). 12 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(k).