Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Application of the IP Closed Captioning Rules to Video Clips, 78319-78321 [2013-30835]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Proposed Rules Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334, 336, and 339. § 73.622 [Amended] 2. Section 73.622(i), the PostTransition Table of DTV Allotments under Oklahoma is amended by adding channel 23 and removing channel 51 at Oklahoma City. ■ [FR Doc. 2013–30827 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 79 Washington, DC 20554. This document will also be available via ECFS at https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat. The complete text may be purchased from the Commission’s copy contractor, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY–B402, Washington, DC 20554. Alternative formats are available for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), by sending an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or calling the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432 (TTY). [MB Docket No. 11–154; DA 13–2392] Summary Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Application of the IP Closed Captioning Rules to Video Clips 1. Through this document, the Media Bureau seeks updated information on the closed captioning of video clips delivered by Internet protocol (‘‘IP’’), including the extent to which industry has voluntarily captioned IP-delivered video clips.1 2. In the IP Closed Captioning Order, pursuant to the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (‘‘CVAA’’),2 the Commission imposed closed captioning requirements on the owners, providers, and distributors of IPdelivered video programming. The Commission determined that the IP closed captioning rules initially should apply to full-length programming and not to video clips, but it also stated its belief that Congress intended ‘‘to leave open the extent to which [video clips] should be covered under this section at some point in the future.’’ 3 Specifically, the Commission noted that statements in the legislative history of the CVAA that Congress ‘‘intends, at this time, for the regulations to apply to full-length programming and not to video clips or Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: This document seeks updated information on the closed captioning of video clips delivered by Internet protocol (‘‘IP’’), including the extent to which industry has voluntarily captioned IP-delivered video clips. The Commission directed the Media Bureau to issue this document to seek comment on the industry’s progress in captioning IP-delivered video clips. The Commission stated that, if the resulting record demonstrates that lack of captioning of IP-delivered video clips denies consumers access to critical areas of video programming, then the Commission may reconsider the need for a requirement to provide closed captioning on IP-delivered video clips. DATES: Comments may be filed on or before January 27, 2014; reply comments may be filed on or before February 26, 2014. ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Sokolow, Diana.Sokolow@fcc.gov, of the Media Bureau, Policy Division, (202) 418–2120. Press contact: Janice Wise, Janice.Wise@fcc.gov, (202) 418– 8165. SUMMARY: This is a summary of the Media Bureau’s Public Notice, MB Docket No. 11–154, DA 13– 2392, released December 13, 2013. The full text of this document is available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY–A257, tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:18 Dec 24, 2013 Jkt 232001 1 See Closed Captioning of Internet ProtocolDelivered Video Programming: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Order on Reconsideration and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 28 FCC Rcd 8785, 8803–04, ¶ 30 (2013) (‘‘IP Closed Captioning Order on Recon and FNPRM’’). 2 Pub. L. No. 111–260, 124 Stat. 2751 (2010). See also Amendment of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111–265, 124 Stat. 2795 (2010) (making technical corrections to the CVAA); Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Report and Order, 27 FCC Rcd 787 (2012) (‘‘IP Closed Captioning Order’’). 3 IP Closed Captioning Order, 27 FCC Rcd at 816, 818, ¶¶ 44, 48. ‘‘Full-length programming’’ is defined as video programming that appears on television and is distributed to end users, substantially in its entirety, via IP. Id. at 816, ¶ 44. ‘‘Video clips’’ are defined as excerpts of full-length programming. Id. at 816, ¶ 45. PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 78319 outtakes,’’ 4 suggested that Congress only intended to exclude video clips initially.5 Given Congress’s intent to ‘‘update the communications laws to help ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to . . . better access video programming,’’ 6 the Commission stated that it may later determine that this intent is best served by requiring captioning of IP-delivered video clips.7 Although not required by the IP Closed Captioning Order, the Commission also encouraged video programming owners, providers, and distributors to provide closed captions for IP-delivered video clips, especially news clips.8 The Commission stated that if it finds that consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing are denied access to critical areas of programming, such as news, it may reconsider the need for a requirement to provide closed captioning on video clips to achieve Congressional intent.9 3. A coalition of consumer groups filed a petition for reconsideration of this issue.10 Shortly thereafter, in support of their request, the consumer groups submitted a report on the state of closed captioning of IP-delivered video programming, in which they asserted a lack of captioning of video clips.11 Consumers expressed particular concern about the unavailability of captioned news clips.12 In an order addressing other petitions for reconsideration of the IP closed captioning rules, the Commission deferred a final decision on whether to reconsider the issue of requiring closed captioning of video clips, noting that since such live and near-live programming only became subject to the IP closed captioning requirements less than three months before the IP Closed 4 S. Rep. No. 111–386, 111th Cong., 2d Sess. at 13–14 (2010) (‘‘Senate Committee Report’’) (emphasis added); H.R. Rep. No. 111–563, 111th Cong., 2d Sess. at 30 (2010) (‘‘House Committee Report’’) (emphasis added). 5 IP Closed Captioning Order, 27 FCC Rcd at 817– 18, ¶ 48. The authors of the CVAA have expressed their support for the Commission ‘‘reconsidering its decision to exempt video clips from the IP closed captioning rules.’’ See Letter from Sen. Mark Pryor and Sen. Edward J. Markey to the Honorable Tom Wheeler, Chairman, FCC (Dec. 6, 2013). 6 Senate Committee Report at 1; House Committee Report at 19. 7 IP Closed Captioning Order, 27 FCC Rcd at 818, ¶ 48. 8 Id. at 817–818, ¶¶ 46, 48. 9 Id. at 818, ¶ 48. 10 Consumer Groups, Petition for Reconsideration of the Commission’s Report and Order, at 1–17 (filed Apr. 27, 2012). 11 Consumer Groups and California Coalition of Agencies Serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Report on the State of Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming, MB Docket No. 11–154, at ii-iii, 5–13, 18–20 (May 16, 2013). 12 See id. at ii-iii, 20. E:\FR\FM\26DEP1.SGM 26DEP1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS 78320 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Proposed Rules Captioning Order on Recon and FNPRM was adopted, the Commission expected the volume of captioned IP-delivered news clips to increase.13 Accordingly, the Commission stated that it would ‘‘monitor industry actions with respect to captioning of video clips’’ and directed the Media Bureau to issue a Public Notice within six months of the release date of the IP Closed Captioning Order on Recon and FNPRM, seeking comment on the industry’s progress in captioning IP-delivered video clips.14 The Commission stated that, ‘‘[i]f the record developed in response to the Public Notice demonstrates that consumers are denied access to critical areas of video programming due to lack of captioning of IP-delivered video clips, [the Commission] may reconsider [its] decision on this issue.’’ 15 4. We now invite comment on the current state of captioning of IPdelivered video clips. What portion of IP-delivered video clips generally, and IP-delivered news clips specifically, are captioned? Has the availability of captioned versions of such clips been increasing? What is the quality of the captioning on IP-delivered video clips? 5. We ask whether, as a legal and/or policy matter, the Commission should require captioning of IP-delivered video clips. Commenters should explain how their positions are consistent with the CVAA, its legislative history, and the intent of Congress to provide video programming access to people with disabilities. What are the potential costs and benefits of requiring captioning of IP-delivered video clips? How have consumers been affected by the absence of closed captioning on IP-delivered video clips, particularly news clips? Commenters should explain what exact steps must be taken in order to caption IP-delivered video clips. To the extent that some entities have already captioned these clips, what technical challenges, if any, had to be addressed? How does the captioning of IP-delivered video clips differ from the captioning of full-length IP-delivered video programming? Similarly, what are the differences between captioning live or near-live IP-delivered video clips, such as news clips, and prerecorded IPdelivered video clips? If the Commission imposes closed captioning obligations for IP-delivered video clips, should the requirements apply to all video clips, or only to a subset of such clips? If only to a subset, what subsets would be most appropriate and what 13 IP Closed Captioning Order on Recon and FNPRM, 28 FCC Rcd at 8803–04, ¶ 30. 14 Id. at 8804, ¶ 30. 15 Id. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:18 Dec 24, 2013 Jkt 232001 would be the rationale for excluding others? 6. We invite comment on any additional issues relevant to the Commission’s determination of whether it should require closed captioning of IP-delivered video clips. 7. Interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document.16 Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (‘‘ECFS’’). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). • Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https:// fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. • Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Æ All hand-delivered or messengerdelivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St. SW., Room TW–A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. Æ Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. Æ U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. 8. Comments, reply comments, and ex parte submissions will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference 16 The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding included an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 603, exploring the potential impact of the Commission’s proposals on small entities. Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 13734, 13774–87 (2011). PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Center, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., CY– A257, Washington, DC, 20554. These documents will also be available via ECFS. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat. 9. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432 (TTY). 10. This proceeding shall be treated as a ‘‘permit-but-disclose’’ proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules.17 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 17 47 E:\FR\FM\26DEP1.SGM CFR 1.1200 et seq. 26DEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Proposed Rules Federal Communications Commission. William T. Lake, Chief, Media Bureau. Login instructions will be provided to registered attendees on or about January 21, 2014. [FR Doc. 2013–30835 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BILLING CODE 6712–01–P Jennifer Timian, Chief, Recall Management Division, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, telephone 202–366–0209, email jennifer.timian@dot.gov. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 49 CFR Parts 573, 577, and 579 [Docket No. NHTSA—2012–0068; Notice 3] RIN 2127–AK72 Early Warning Reporting, Foreign Defect Reporting, and Motor Vehicle and Equipment Recall Regulations; Meeting National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Meeting Notice—Technical Specification for Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Look-up Interface. AGENCY: On August 20, 2013, NHTSA published a final rule requiring certain vehicle manufacturers to allow the secure electronic transfer of manufacturer recall data to NHTSA when a consumer submits VIN information to the agency’s Web site for purposes of learning recall information about the vehicle. NHTSA will host a public meeting on the technical specifications that vehicle manufacturers will‘ need in order to support the VIN-based safety recalls look-up tool that will be housed on the NHTSA Web site www.safercar.gov. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the details of the technical specifications, answer any technical concerns or questions, and hear feedback on the technical specifications. DATES: The meeting will be held on January 22, 2014, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be an online web meeting available at https://www.teleconference.att.com/ servlet/AWMlogin. Attendees must register by C.O.B. January 17, 2014. To register please send an email to alexander.ansley@dot.gov with the names of your participants and how many web meeting connections you require (e.g. 5 participants logging in between 2 computers). In order to permit sufficient access to all those that wish to attend, we request that each manufacturer, company, or group, as applicable, limit the number of its meeting connections to three. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:18 Dec 24, 2013 Jkt 232001 On August 20, 2013, NHTSA published a final rule requiring certain vehicle manufacturers to allow the secure electronic transfer of manufacturer recall data to NHTSA when a consumer submits VIN information to the agency’s Web site for purposes of learning vehicle recall information. See 78 FR 51382, 51401. This requirement applies to manufacturers who manufacture 25,000 light vehicles annually or 5,000 motorcycles annually. Further information about the requirement to transfer recall data to NHTSA based upon a consumer’s VIN may be found in the August 20, 2013 final rule. Id. Manufacturers with early warning reporting (EWR) accounts may obtain a copy of the VIN look-up interface technical specifications through the agency’s Web site. To obtain the technical specifications, these manufacturers should use their EWR account credentials to access the secure Web page at https://wwwodi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ewr/login.cfm. After logging in to the EWR system, the document labeled ‘‘NEW—Technical Specifications for VIN Lookup Interface’’ can be found on the next page. For any manufacturer, company, or group that does not have an EWR account, please contact Alex Ansley at alexander.ansley@dot.gov to receive a copy of the technical specification. The public meeting will be hosted online at https://www.teleconference. att.com/servlet/AWMlogin. However, if there is sufficient interest, we may also host meeting at the DOT headquarters in Washington, DC in tandem with the online web meeting. When registering for the meeting on January 22nd, attendees should indicate if they plan to attend in-person. Meeting access instructions will be sent to registered participants on or about January 21, 2014. Please note this meeting will not include discussion or review of the webbased recalls portal manufacturers will soon utilize to manage safety recalls. We will publish another public notice in the Federal Register once the recalls portal SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 78321 is developed and we are able to offer the requisite training. Frank S. Borris II, Director, Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA. [FR Doc. 2013–30669 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–59–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. FWS–R8–ES–2013–0104; 4500030113] RIN 1018–AY53 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Threatened Status for the Western Distinct Population Segment of the YellowBilled Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period. AGENCY: On October 3, 2013, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announced a proposal to list the yellowbilled cuckoo in the western portion of the United States, Canada, and Mexico (western yellow-billed cuckoo) as a threatened distinct population segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We now announce the reopening of the comment period for our October 3, 2013, proposed rule to ensure the public has sufficient time to comment on the proposal for this species. DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published October 3, 2013 (78 FR 61621), is reopened. We request that comments on this proposal be submitted by the close of business on February 24, 2014. ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain copies of the proposed rule on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS–R8–ES–2013–0104, or contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or by mail from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Comment Submission: You may submit comments by one of the following methods: (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26DEP1.SGM 26DEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78319-78321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30835]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 79

[MB Docket No. 11-154; DA 13-2392]


Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Application of the IP Closed 
Captioning Rules to Video Clips

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This document seeks updated information on the closed 
captioning of video clips delivered by Internet protocol (``IP''), 
including the extent to which industry has voluntarily captioned IP-
delivered video clips. The Commission directed the Media Bureau to 
issue this document to seek comment on the industry's progress in 
captioning IP-delivered video clips. The Commission stated that, if the 
resulting record demonstrates that lack of captioning of IP-delivered 
video clips denies consumers access to critical areas of video 
programming, then the Commission may reconsider the need for a 
requirement to provide closed captioning on IP-delivered video clips.

DATES: Comments may be filed on or before January 27, 2014; reply 
comments may be filed on or before February 26, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Sokolow, Diana.Sokolow@fcc.gov, 
of the Media Bureau, Policy Division, (202) 418-2120. Press contact: 
Janice Wise, Janice.Wise@fcc.gov, (202) 418-8165.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Media Bureau's 
Public Notice, MB Docket No. 11-154, DA 13-2392, released December 13, 
2013. The full text of this document is available for public inspection 
and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, 
Washington, DC 20554. This document will also be available via ECFS at 
https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Documents will be available 
electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat. The 
complete text may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, 
445 12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Alternative 
formats are available for people with disabilities (Braille, large 
print, electronic files, audio format), by sending an email to 
fcc504@fcc.gov or calling the Commission's Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).

Summary

    1. Through this document, the Media Bureau seeks updated 
information on the closed captioning of video clips delivered by 
Internet protocol (``IP''), including the extent to which industry has 
voluntarily captioned IP-delivered video clips.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video 
Programming: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century 
Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Order on 
Reconsideration and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 28 FCC 
Rcd 8785, 8803-04, ] 30 (2013) (``IP Closed Captioning Order on 
Recon and FNPRM'').
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    2. In the IP Closed Captioning Order, pursuant to the Twenty-First 
Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 
(``CVAA''),\2\ the Commission imposed closed captioning requirements on 
the owners, providers, and distributors of IP-delivered video 
programming. The Commission determined that the IP closed captioning 
rules initially should apply to full-length programming and not to 
video clips, but it also stated its belief that Congress intended ``to 
leave open the extent to which [video clips] should be covered under 
this section at some point in the future.'' \3\ Specifically, the 
Commission noted that statements in the legislative history of the CVAA 
that Congress ``intends, at this time, for the regulations to apply to 
full-length programming and not to video clips or outtakes,'' \4\ 
suggested that Congress only intended to exclude video clips 
initially.\5\ Given Congress's intent to ``update the communications 
laws to help ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to . . 
. better access video programming,'' \6\ the Commission stated that it 
may later determine that this intent is best served by requiring 
captioning of IP-delivered video clips.\7\ Although not required by the 
IP Closed Captioning Order, the Commission also encouraged video 
programming owners, providers, and distributors to provide closed 
captions for IP-delivered video clips, especially news clips.\8\ The 
Commission stated that if it finds that consumers who are deaf or hard 
of hearing are denied access to critical areas of programming, such as 
news, it may reconsider the need for a requirement to provide closed 
captioning on video clips to achieve Congressional intent.\9\
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    \2\ Pub. L. No. 111-260, 124 Stat. 2751 (2010). See also 
Amendment of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video 
Accessibility Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-265, 124 Stat. 2795 
(2010) (making technical corrections to the CVAA); Closed Captioning 
of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming: Implementation of 
the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act 
of 2010, Report and Order, 27 FCC Rcd 787 (2012) (``IP Closed 
Captioning Order'').
    \3\ IP Closed Captioning Order, 27 FCC Rcd at 816, 818, ]] 44, 
48. ``Full-length programming'' is defined as video programming that 
appears on television and is distributed to end users, substantially 
in its entirety, via IP. Id. at 816, ] 44. ``Video clips'' are 
defined as excerpts of full-length programming. Id. at 816, ] 45.
    \4\ S. Rep. No. 111-386, 111th Cong., 2d Sess. at 13-14 (2010) 
(``Senate Committee Report'') (emphasis added); H.R. Rep. No. 111-
563, 111th Cong., 2d Sess. at 30 (2010) (``House Committee Report'') 
(emphasis added).
    \5\ IP Closed Captioning Order, 27 FCC Rcd at 817-18, ] 48. The 
authors of the CVAA have expressed their support for the Commission 
``reconsidering its decision to exempt video clips from the IP 
closed captioning rules.'' See Letter from Sen. Mark Pryor and Sen. 
Edward J. Markey to the Honorable Tom Wheeler, Chairman, FCC (Dec. 
6, 2013).
    \6\ Senate Committee Report at 1; House Committee Report at 19.
    \7\ IP Closed Captioning Order, 27 FCC Rcd at 818, ] 48.
    \8\ Id. at 817-818, ]] 46, 48.
    \9\ Id. at 818, ] 48.
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    3. A coalition of consumer groups filed a petition for 
reconsideration of this issue.\10\ Shortly thereafter, in support of 
their request, the consumer groups submitted a report on the state of 
closed captioning of IP-delivered video programming, in which they 
asserted a lack of captioning of video clips.\11\ Consumers expressed 
particular concern about the unavailability of captioned news 
clips.\12\ In an order addressing other petitions for reconsideration 
of the IP closed captioning rules, the Commission deferred a final 
decision on whether to reconsider the issue of requiring closed 
captioning of video clips, noting that since such live and near-live 
programming only became subject to the IP closed captioning 
requirements less than three months before the IP Closed

[[Page 78320]]

Captioning Order on Recon and FNPRM was adopted, the Commission 
expected the volume of captioned IP-delivered news clips to 
increase.\13\ Accordingly, the Commission stated that it would 
``monitor industry actions with respect to captioning of video clips'' 
and directed the Media Bureau to issue a Public Notice within six 
months of the release date of the IP Closed Captioning Order on Recon 
and FNPRM, seeking comment on the industry's progress in captioning IP-
delivered video clips.\14\ The Commission stated that, ``[i]f the 
record developed in response to the Public Notice demonstrates that 
consumers are denied access to critical areas of video programming due 
to lack of captioning of IP-delivered video clips, [the Commission] may 
reconsider [its] decision on this issue.'' \15\
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    \10\ Consumer Groups, Petition for Reconsideration of the 
Commission's Report and Order, at 1-17 (filed Apr. 27, 2012).
    \11\ Consumer Groups and California Coalition of Agencies 
Serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Report on the State of Closed 
Captioning of Internet Protocol-Delivered Video Programming, MB 
Docket No. 11-154, at ii-iii, 5-13, 18-20 (May 16, 2013).
    \12\ See id. at ii-iii, 20.
    \13\ IP Closed Captioning Order on Recon and FNPRM, 28 FCC Rcd 
at 8803-04, ] 30.
    \14\ Id. at 8804, ] 30.
    \15\ Id.
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    4. We now invite comment on the current state of captioning of IP-
delivered video clips. What portion of IP-delivered video clips 
generally, and IP-delivered news clips specifically, are captioned? Has 
the availability of captioned versions of such clips been increasing? 
What is the quality of the captioning on IP-delivered video clips?
    5. We ask whether, as a legal and/or policy matter, the Commission 
should require captioning of IP-delivered video clips. Commenters 
should explain how their positions are consistent with the CVAA, its 
legislative history, and the intent of Congress to provide video 
programming access to people with disabilities. What are the potential 
costs and benefits of requiring captioning of IP-delivered video clips? 
How have consumers been affected by the absence of closed captioning on 
IP-delivered video clips, particularly news clips? Commenters should 
explain what exact steps must be taken in order to caption IP-delivered 
video clips. To the extent that some entities have already captioned 
these clips, what technical challenges, if any, had to be addressed? 
How does the captioning of IP-delivered video clips differ from the 
captioning of full-length IP-delivered video programming? Similarly, 
what are the differences between captioning live or near-live IP-
delivered video clips, such as news clips, and prerecorded IP-delivered 
video clips? If the Commission imposes closed captioning obligations 
for IP-delivered video clips, should the requirements apply to all 
video clips, or only to a subset of such clips? If only to a subset, 
what subsets would be most appropriate and what would be the rationale 
for excluding others?
    6. We invite comment on any additional issues relevant to the 
Commission's determination of whether it should require closed 
captioning of IP-delivered video clips.
    7. Interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or 
before the dates indicated on the first page of this document.\16\ 
Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing 
System (``ECFS''). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking 
Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
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    \16\ The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding 
included an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 603, exploring the potential impact of the Commission's 
proposals on small entities. Closed Captioning of Internet Protocol-
Delivered Video Programming: Implementation of the Twenty-First 
Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 13734, 13774-87 (2011).
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     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket 
or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
    [cir] All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for 
the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 
12th St. SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with 
rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of 
before entering the building.
    [cir] Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
    [cir] U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail 
must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554.
    8. Comments, reply comments, and ex parte submissions will be 
available for public inspection during regular business hours in the 
FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th 
Street SW., CY-A257, Washington, DC, 20554. These documents will also 
be available via ECFS. Documents will be available electronically in 
ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat.
    9. To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the FCC's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 
(TTY).
    10. This proceeding shall be treated as a ``permit-but-disclose'' 
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.\17\ 
Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written 
presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within 
two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline 
applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex 
parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the 
presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise 
participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was 
made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during 
the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of 
the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the 
presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the 
proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or 
arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings 
(specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data 
or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by 
rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of 
electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda 
summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, 
must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available 
for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., 
.doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding 
should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
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    \17\ 47 CFR 1.1200 et seq.


[[Page 78321]]


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Federal Communications Commission.
William T. Lake,
Chief, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2013-30835 Filed 12-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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