In a message dated 11/2/2005 1:17:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,
richardeinhorn@... writes:

With Jan 2006 coming up fast, does anyone know the exceptions for
independent programs ?
Is this the demise of many programs that can't afford it?

Richard Einhorn
TheTrainShow.com




_http://www.robson.org/capfaq/standards-and-laws.html_
(http://www.robson.org/capfaq/standards-and-laws.html)

Does the FCC mandate captioning on everything now?
On Thursday, August 7th, 1997, the FCC unanimously approved new regulations
which will mandate captioning on virtually all television programming in the
United States. _Section 305_
(http://www.robson.org/gary/captioning/telecomm-act-text.html#305) of the
_Telecommunication Act_
(http://www.robson.org/gary/captioning/telecomm-act.html) of 1996 is being
implemented as a new section
(Section 713) of the existing Communications Act. On Thursday, September 17,
1998, the FCC modified their rules, in what can be considered a victory for
caption viewers.
The ruling took effect on January 1st, 1998, and it phases in requirements
separately for "old" and "new" programming.
For programming that first aired prior to the effective date of the law, the
FCC is allowing a ten-year transition period, after which 75% of the "old"
programming must be captioned. This decision (the choice of 75% as a benchmark
value) will be reevaluated in four years by the FCC.
For "new" programming, airing for the first time after the effective date of
the law, the FCC is allowing an eight-year transition period with milestones
along the way. At the end of that eight-year period (as of January 1, 2006),
all new programming must be captioned (the original ruling said 95%, but it
was updated to 100% in September 1998).
The FCC allowed quite a few exemptions to the rules, including:
1. No video programmer will be required to spend more than 2% of its
annual gross revenues on captioning.
2. All non-English programming is exempted.
The Sept 1998 update makes Spanish required by 2010 (new programs) or 2012
(old programs).
3. "Non vocal" programming is exempted.
4. Commercials and public service announcements are exempted.
5. Programming from "new networks" is exempted.
6. All programs aired between 2:00am and 6:00am are exempted.









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