NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: October 3, 2012 Janice Wise: (202) 418-8165 Email: Janice.Wise@fcc.gov INTERNET CLOSED CAPTIONING RULES WENT INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 Washington, D.C. -- Rules requiring distributors of certain Internet video programming to provide closed captioning to assist viewers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing went into effect on September 30. Closed captioning is the visual display of the audio portion of video programming. These Internet closed captioning requirements were implemented pursuant to the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The rules currently apply to programming meeting all three of the following criteria: § Programming that is shown on television with closed captions on or after September 30, 2012 § Programming that is added to the online distributor’s inventory on or after September 30, 2012 § Programming that is not substantially edited for the Internet. Closed captioning requirements for other kinds of video programming, such as programs that are shown on television live or near live, programs that are substantially edited for the Internet, and programs that are already part of a distributor’s inventory of Internet video programming (archival content), will be implemented at later dates. -FCC- For news and information about the FCC, please visit www.fcc.gov.