FCC Proposes to Amend Audible Crawl Rule to Preserve Accessibility
Proposal will Eliminate the Need for Successive Waivers and Ensure the Continued Availability of Visual, Non-Textual Emergency Information 
   
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2026—Today, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a proposal to amend the Audible Crawl Rule that would ensure that people who are blind or visually impaired continue to have access to the same critical details of an emergency as sighted viewers. 

The Commission’s Audible Crawl Rule requires the use of a secondary audio stream to convey televised emergency information aurally when such information is conveyed visually (e.g., in an on-screen text crawl or a small image like a weather radar map), so that it is accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.  To date, no technical solution exists for compliance with the audible crawl rule as it relates to graphics like a weather radar map, and the rule has been waived in part for the entirety of the nearly 11 years since compliance was required.  This modified rule will stipulate that the rule is met if video programming providers or distributors provide textual crawls that convey emergency information duplicative of or equivalent to the visual, non-textual emergency information, as long as the text is conveyed aurally.

Additional Background Information:

Today’s Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will start a rulemaking proceeding to seek comment on amending the Audible Crawl Rule.  This proposal will enhance government efficiency and regulatory certainty by modifying an unworkable part of a rule and eliminating the need for multiple successive waivers.  Importantly, the proposed rule change would ensure that TV broadcasters continue to provide radar maps and other graphics conveying emergency information during non-newscast programming, while also preserving accessibility and consumer interests.

Action by the Commission April 30, 2026 by Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 26-31).  Chairman Carr, Commissioners Gomez and Trusty approving.  Chairman Carr and Commissioner Trusty issuing separate statements.

MB Docket No. 12-107

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