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Filing a Closed Captioning ComplaintBackground.
Closed captioning allows persons with hearing impairments to access
television
programming by displaying the audio portion of a
television program as text on the television screen. In 1996, Congress
required video programming distributors (cable operators, broadcasters,
satellite distributors, and other multi-channel programming distributors)
to close caption their television programs, with certain exemptions.
(47 U.S.C. § 613) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued
rules to implement this requirement, including procedures for filing
complaints when violations occur. (47 CFR § 79.1) The closed captioning rules apply only to non-emergency programming.
Complaints about lack of access to emergency information are discussed
separately below.
Contacting
your TV Program Distributor. The FCC’s rules require
that, before contacting the FCC, you must first complain in writing to
your television program distributor (i.e., your cable or satellite TV,
or other subscription service if you pay for any of these services, or
the TV station broadcasting the program, if you do not pay for cable,
satellite, or other service). The mailing address for your cable or satellite TV provider is usually
on the back of your bill, or you can phone the Customer Service number
of the provider and ask for the mailing address. Mailing addresses of
TV stations are generally found in phone directories. Letters should
be addressed to the General Manager or CEO of the company. Time Requirements. Your written complaint to the TV program provider
must be sent before the end of the calendar quarter following the calendar
quarter when the problem occurred. For example, if the problem occurred
on January 28, 2008 (1st quarter), your complaint must be filed by June
30, 2008 (end of 2nd quarter). Contents of Complaint. Closed captioning complaints should be very specific.
Include the following information in your complaint to the TV programming
distributor. State that
Your Complaint is Being Filed Under the FCC Closed Captioning Rules
(47 CFR § 79.1). Your Name: _____________________________________________________ Your Address: ___________________________________________________ Your Telephone Number: __________________________________________ Your Email Address: ______________________________________________ Name of the TV Program(s) or Show(s) with the Captioning Problem: _____ The Number and Name of the Channels the Show was on (for example, Channel
28, WYZZ, or Channel 106, the Story Channel): ___________________________ The Date(s) and Time(s) You Experienced the Closed Captioning Problem:
___ Detailed
Description of the Captioning Problem (for example, “no
closed captioning during entire show” or “closed captioning
disappeared halfway into the program” or “the closed captioning
text was garbled or unreadable.”): ________________
• You
should contact the FCC quickly, within 30 days. • Send
a written letter to the FCC with the information contained in your
complaint
to the TV programming distributor. You must include
a copy of the original complaint to the TV distributor and a copy of
the response you received, if any. • You
may include further information such as videotapes, or copies of schedules
showing
the CC logo that was shown without closed captioning. • Send
the complaint to the following address: Federal Communications Commission
If you have a complaint alleging a violation of the rules requiring
access to emergency information, you can send it directly to the FCC
by any reasonable means -- Your complaint should include The FCC will notify the programming distributor and work to resolve
the problem. |