Audio Description: Nonbroadcast Networks, 20147 [2021-07882]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 72 / Friday, April 16, 2021 / Notices Total estimated burden: 4,165 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b). Total estimated cost: $ 213,153 (per year), includes $0 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in Estimates: There is an increase of 35 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This increase is due in part to an increase in the number of motor vehicle establishments in the United States. This correlates with an increase in the number of establishments that send refrigerants off-site for recycling or reclamation. Cynthia A. Newberg, Director, Stratospheric Protection Division. [FR Doc. 2021–07848 Filed 4–15–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [MB Docket No. 11–43; DA 21–281; FRS ID 20962] Audio Description: Nonbroadcast Networks Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: FCC announces the top five national nonbroadcast networks subject to the Commission’s audio description requirements. SUMMARY: The updated list of the top five national nonbroadcast networks subject to the Commission’s audio description requirements is effective July 1, 2021. ADDRESSES: The full text of this public notice is available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat via ECFS and at https:// www.fcc.gov/document/media-bureaugrants-requests-audio-descriptionexemption. 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). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Michael Scurato (202–418–2083; Michael.Scurato@fcc.gov). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Media Bureau’s Public Notice, DA 21–281, released on March 8, 2021. Audio description makes video programming accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:57 Apr 15, 2021 Jkt 253001 through ‘‘[t]he insertion of audio narrated descriptions of a television program’s key visual elements into natural pauses between the program’s dialogue.’’ The Commission’s audio description rules require multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) systems that serve 50,000 or more subscribers to provide 87.5 hours of audio description per calendar quarter on channels carrying each of the top five national nonbroadcast networks. The top five national nonbroadcast networks are defined by an average of the national audience share during prime time among nonbroadcast networks that reach 50 percent or more of MVPD households and have at least 50 hours per quarter of prime time programming that is not live or near-live or otherwise exempt under the audio description rules. The rules provide that the list of top five nonbroadcast networks will update at three-year intervals to account for changes in ratings, and that the third triennial update will occur on July 1, 2021, based on the 2019 to 2020 ratings year. In anticipation of this update, the Media Bureau issued a Public Notice on November 2, 2020 announcing the top ten nonbroadcast networks for the 2019 to 2020 ratings year according to data provided by the Nielsen Company: Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, ESPN, TLC, HGTV, Hallmark, History, TBS, and Discovery. The Public Notice indicated that a program network could seek an exemption no later than 30 days after publication of the Public Notice, if it believed it should be excluded from the list of top five networks covered by the audio description rules because it does not air at least 50 hours of prime time programming per quarter that is not live or near-live or is otherwise exempt. Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, and ESPN filed timely requests for exemption from the list of top five nonbroadcast networks. In an Order adopted concurrently with this Public Notice, the Bureau found that Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, and ESPN provide on average less than 50 hours per calendar quarter of prime time programming that is not live or near-live. The Bureau, therefore, exempted these four networks from the Commission’s audio description requirements applicable to the top five national nonbroadcast networks. In making its determination, the Bureau reviewed data pertaining to the six most recent calendar quarters submitted by each network and sample programming schedules. The Bureau also considered additional information each individual network submitted to support or explain aspects of each request, when available. PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 20147 Thus, as a result of the exemptions granted to Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, and ESPN and a review of Nielsen ratings for the 2019 to 2020 ratings year, the top five nonbroadcast networks that will be subject to the audio description requirements as of July 1, 2021 are: TLC, HGTV, Hallmark, History, and TBS. MVPD systems that serve 50,000 or more subscribers must provide 87.5 hours of audio description per calendar quarter on channels carrying each of these networks during the triennial period beginning on July 1, 2021. Federal Communications Commission. Thomas Horan, Chief of Staff, Media Bureau. [FR Doc. 2021–07882 Filed 4–15–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [FR No. 20892] Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records. AGENCY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission, or Agency) has modified an existing system of records, FCC/OCBO–1, Business Contacts Database (formerly FCC/OCBO–1, Small Business Contacts Database), subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the Agency. The Commission uses the information on individuals and businesses contained in the records in this system to conduct outreach. DATES: This system of records will become effective on April 16, 2021. Written comments on the routine uses are due by May 17, 2021. The routine uses will become effective on May 17, 2021, unless written comments are received that require a contrary determination. SUMMARY: Send comments to Margaret Drake, at privacy@fcc.gov, or at Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554 at (202) 418–1707. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Drake, (202) 418–1707, or privacy@fcc.gov (and to obtain a copy of the Narrative Statement and the Supplementary Document, which ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\16APN1.SGM 16APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 72 (Friday, April 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 20147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07882]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[MB Docket No. 11-43; DA 21-281; FRS ID 20962]


Audio Description: Nonbroadcast Networks

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: FCC announces the top five national nonbroadcast networks 
subject to the Commission's audio description requirements.

DATES: The updated list of the top five national nonbroadcast networks 
subject to the Commission's audio description requirements is effective 
July 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The full text of this public notice is available 
electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat via ECFS 
and at https://www.fcc.gov/document/media-bureau-grants-requests-audio-description-exemption. Alternative formats are available for people 
with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio 
format), by sending an email to [email protected] or calling the 
Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 
(voice).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact 
Michael Scurato (202-418-2083; [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Media Bureau's 
Public Notice, DA 21-281, released on March 8, 2021. Audio description 
makes video programming accessible to individuals who are blind or 
visually impaired through ``[t]he insertion of audio narrated 
descriptions of a television program's key visual elements into natural 
pauses between the program's dialogue.'' The Commission's audio 
description rules require multichannel video programming distributor 
(MVPD) systems that serve 50,000 or more subscribers to provide 87.5 
hours of audio description per calendar quarter on channels carrying 
each of the top five national nonbroadcast networks. The top five 
national nonbroadcast networks are defined by an average of the 
national audience share during prime time among nonbroadcast networks 
that reach 50 percent or more of MVPD households and have at least 50 
hours per quarter of prime time programming that is not live or near-
live or otherwise exempt under the audio description rules.
    The rules provide that the list of top five nonbroadcast networks 
will update at three-year intervals to account for changes in ratings, 
and that the third triennial update will occur on July 1, 2021, based 
on the 2019 to 2020 ratings year. In anticipation of this update, the 
Media Bureau issued a Public Notice on November 2, 2020 announcing the 
top ten nonbroadcast networks for the 2019 to 2020 ratings year 
according to data provided by the Nielsen Company: Fox News, MSNBC, 
CNN, ESPN, TLC, HGTV, Hallmark, History, TBS, and Discovery. The Public 
Notice indicated that a program network could seek an exemption no 
later than 30 days after publication of the Public Notice, if it 
believed it should be excluded from the list of top five networks 
covered by the audio description rules because it does not air at least 
50 hours of prime time programming per quarter that is not live or 
near-live or is otherwise exempt. Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, and ESPN filed 
timely requests for exemption from the list of top five nonbroadcast 
networks.
    In an Order adopted concurrently with this Public Notice, the 
Bureau found that Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, and ESPN provide on average 
less than 50 hours per calendar quarter of prime time programming that 
is not live or near-live. The Bureau, therefore, exempted these four 
networks from the Commission's audio description requirements 
applicable to the top five national nonbroadcast networks. In making 
its determination, the Bureau reviewed data pertaining to the six most 
recent calendar quarters submitted by each network and sample 
programming schedules. The Bureau also considered additional 
information each individual network submitted to support or explain 
aspects of each request, when available.
    Thus, as a result of the exemptions granted to Fox News, MSNBC, 
CNN, and ESPN and a review of Nielsen ratings for the 2019 to 2020 
ratings year, the top five nonbroadcast networks that will be subject 
to the audio description requirements as of July 1, 2021 are: TLC, 
HGTV, Hallmark, History, and TBS. MVPD systems that serve 50,000 or 
more subscribers must provide 87.5 hours of audio description per 
calendar quarter on channels carrying each of these networks during the 
triennial period beginning on July 1, 2021.

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2021-07882 Filed 4-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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