Federal Communications Commission	DA 19-878


Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of

Closed Captioning of Video Programming

Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. Petition for Rulemaking

Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. et al. Petition for Declaratory Ruling and/or Ruling Making on Live Closed Captioning Quality Metrics and the Use of Automatic Speech Recognition Technologies
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CG Docket No. 05-231




RM-11848
ORDER


Adopted:  September 5, 2019	Released:  September 5, 2019

Comment Date:  October 15, 2019
Reply Comment Date:  October 30, 2019

By the Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau:

1. By this Order, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission grants a 30-day extension of time for commenting on a petition filed by a coalition of consumer and academic organizations regarding live television captioning quality metrics and automatic speech recognition. Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI), National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA), Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization (CPADO), Deaf Seniors of America (DSA), Deaf/Hard of Hearing Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (DHH-RERC), Twenty-First Century Captioning Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (Captioning DRRP), Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Interface & Information Technology Access (IT-RERC), and National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Petition for Declaratory Ruling and/or Rulemaking on Live Closed Captioning Quality Metrics and the Use of Automatic Speech Recognition Technologies, CG Docket No. 05-231 (filed July 31, 2019), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/10801131063733 (Consumer Groups and RERCs Petition).
  The petitioners do not oppose this request. Letter from Blake Reid et al., Counsel for TDI et al., to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (Aug. 30, 2019) (on file in CG Docket No. 05-231, RM-11848, and RM-11065).
  With this 30-day extension, comments are due on October 15, 2019, and reply comments are due on October 30, 2019.
2. On August 14, 2019, the Bureau released a Public Notice seeking comment on the Consumer Groups and RERCs Petition, with filing deadlines of September 13, 2019, for comments and September 30, 2019, for reply comments.  Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Seeks Comment on Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Petition for Rulemaking Filed by Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing et al. on Live Closed Captioning Quality Metrics and the Use of Automatic Speech Recognition Technologies, Public Notice, DA 19-776 (CGB Aug. 14, 2019). 
  On August 26, 2019, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and NCTA – The Internet & Television Association (NCTA) filed a motion Motion for Extension of Time, CG Docket No. 05-231, RM-11848 (filed August 26, 2019) (Motion), https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/10826302908352/Extension%20Request-Caption%20Metrics%20Petition%20NCTA-NAB.pdf.  
 to extend the comment and reply comment deadlines by 30 days each, to October 15, 2019 and October 30, 2019, respectively. The first business day that is at least 30 days after September 13, 2019, is Tuesday, October 15, 2019.  See 47 CFR § 1.4(e), (j).
  NAB and NCTA claim that the extension they seek would allow both industry and consumer advocacy stakeholders to build a more comprehensive record for the benefit of other interested parties and the Commission. Motion at 2-3. 
  According to NAB and NCTA, on October 2, 2019—after the close of the current comment period—they will meet with representatives of deaf and hard of hearing advocacy organizations to continue an ongoing dialogue on closed caption quality and discuss the issues raised in the Consumer Groups and RERCs Petition. Id. at 2.  In 2014, the Commission encouraged frequent discussions among interested parties and supported NCTA’s proposal for an annual conference on caption quality.  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, 2263, para. 65 (2014).
  NAB and NCTA explain that a 30-day extension would allow for comments that reflect the relevant discussions to be addressed at the October 2 meeting. Motion at 3.
  
3. As set forth in section 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.46.
 it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted.  We find, however, that NAB and NCTA have shown good cause for the requested extension, and that the public interest will be served by granting the Motion. 
4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to sections 0.204, 0.361, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.204, 0.361, 1.46, that the Motion for Extension of Time filed by NAB and NCTA is GRANTED. 
5.  IT IS ALSO ORDERED that the date for filing comments on the Petition IS EXTENDED to October 15, 2019, and the date for filing reply comments IS EXTENDED to October 30, 2019. 
6. To request materials in accessible formats (such as Braille, large print, electronic files, or audio format), send an e-mail to: fcc504@fcc.gov, or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). 

7. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Debra Patkin, Attorney-Advisor, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, (202) 870-5226, Debra.Patkin@fcc.gov. 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 


Patrick Webre Chief
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
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