STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS
Re. Closed Captioning of Video Programming; Closed Captioning Requirements for 
Digital Television Receivers, CG Docket No. 05-231 and ET Docket No. 99-254.
Today’s decision takes several important steps to update and enhance our closed captioning rules.  
It improves our complaint process.  It makes it easier for consumers to get immediate help with specific 
captioning problems.  And it clarifies some important captioning issues as we continue to transition to 
digital television.  
This is as it should be.  For individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, closed captions provide 
a critical link to news, entertainment and emergency information.  By acting on many of the issues raised 
in the petition filed by Telecommunications for the Deaf, the National Association of the Deaf, Self Help 
for Hard of Hearing People, the Association for Late Deafened Adults and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 
Consumer Advocacy Network, we help meet our obligation to keep our rules current and ensure that 
video programming is accessible to everyone.
But while this item represents progress, many open issues remain.  For instance, I have publicly 
called on the Commission to immediately implement the October 2007 recommendation (reiterated in 
June 2008) from its Consumer Advisory Committee to convene a working group on digital closed 
captioning that includes representatives from the broadcast, cable and satellite industries, consumer 
electronics manufacturers and retailers, and captioning providers and consumers.  The working group 
would: (1) identify current and anticipated problems with the transmission and display of digital 
captioning; (2) evaluate the captioning capabilities of digital equipment; and (3) develop solutions to 
ensure that captions are passed through intact to the consumer.
I hope that we act on that recommendation soon.  In the meantime, today’s decision is a good step 
forward and I’m pleased to support it.