Is Closed Captioning Required By Law

Closed captioning, or closed captions, is text displayed on a screen, typically in a television broadcast, that corresponds to the audio portion of the program. Closed captions are generally used to help deaf and hard of hearing viewers follow along with a program’s dialogue and sound effects, but they can also be used to help people with learning disabilities, foreign language learners, and people who are deaf or hard of hearing and watching a movie or program with audio turned off.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires closed captioning for all publically broadcast television programs. This means that all television networks and stations must provide closed captions for their programming. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also requires closed captioning for all programming aired on digital television (DTV) channels.

There are some exceptions to the closed captioning requirements. For example, the FCC does not require closed captioning for programs that are not aired on television, such as videos that are streamed online. The FCC also does not require closed captioning for programs that are aired for less than five minutes, or for programs that are aired in a language other than English or Spanish.

Despite the requirements, many television networks and stations do not always provide closed captions for their programming. If you are a deaf or hard of hearing viewer and you find that a program you want to watch does not have closed captions, you can file a complaint with the FCC.

Table of Contents

1 When did closed captioning become mandatory?
2 What are the laws that require closed captions?
3 Is closed caption required?
4 Are streaming services required to have closed captioning?
5 Who is responsible for closed captioning?
6 When did FCC require closed captioning?
7 Who needs closed captioning?

When did closed captioning become mandatory?

When did closed captioning become mandatory? The FCC first adopted closed captioning rules in 1993, but the rules didn’t become mandatory until January 1, 1998. The FCC’s rules required all television programming shown on broadcast, cable, and satellite TV systems to be closed captioned.

What are the laws that require closed captions?

Closed captions are a form of text that appears on a television screen, providing a transcript of the audio. Closed captions are used to provide information to deaf or hard of hearing viewers, and also to help viewers who are not fluent in the language being spoken.

Is closed caption required?

In the United States, closed captions are not required by law. However, many businesses and organizations find that closed captions are a valuable addition to their content.

There are a few reasons that closed captions can be beneficial. First, closed captions make videos and other content more accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Closed captions can also help people who are learning English as a second language, as they can see the words being spoken as they are being said.

Additionally, closed captions can be helpful for people who are in a noisy environment and need to be able to focus on the content of a video. Closed captions can also be turned on and off, so people who do not need them can avoid reading them.

Overall, closed captions can be a helpful addition to videos and other content. They make videos more accessible and can be helpful for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, learning English, or need to focus in a noisy environment.

Are streaming services required to have closed captioning?

Since the early 2000s, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has required all broadcasters to include closed captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing in their programming. The same rules apply to streaming services, which are now a major source of entertainment.

Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services are required to caption all their programming, including original content. This is to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing viewers have access to the same content as everyone else.

There are a few exceptions. For example, if a program is not produced in the United States, it may not be required to have closed captioning. And if a program is considered “ex education” or “informational”, it may be exempt from the requirement.

But in general, streaming services are required to have closed captioning. This is a vital way to ensure that all viewers can enjoy programming equally.

Who is responsible for closed captioning?

Closed captioning is a service that provides a transcription of the audio portion of a television broadcast or other multimedia presentation for the hearing impaired. The FCC requires all television broadcasters to provide closed captioning for the hearing impaired, and most other multimedia providers also offer closed captioning as a service.

So, who is responsible for closed captioning? The FCC requires television broadcasters to provide closed captioning, but the responsibility for creating and providing the captions rests with the broadcasters. Other multimedia providers are not required to provide closed captioning, but most do so as a courtesy to their customers.

If you are a hearing impaired person and need closed captioning, your best bet is to check with the provider of the multimedia you are interested in to see if they offer closed captioning. If they do not, you may need to find a different provider that does.

When did FCC require closed captioning?

The FCC has been requiring closed captioning for all videos since 2000. In 2000, the FCC issued a mandate that all television programming be closed captioned, with some exceptions. The mandate applied to all broadcast networks, cable networks, and satellite providers.

Who needs closed captioning?

Closed captioning is a service that provides a text transcript of all the dialogue and sounds in a television program. It is most commonly used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but it can also be helpful for people who are learning English as a second language, people who are watching TV in a noisy environment, and people who are trying to avoid spoilers.

Closed captioning is available on most television networks and streaming services. You can typically find it by looking for the CC (closed captioning) or subtitles button on your remote. Closed captioning can be turned on and off at any time, and most programs have both English and Spanish captions.

If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, closed captioning can help you follow the dialogue and sound effects in a TV program. It can also help you understand jokes and cultural references that you might not pick up on otherwise. Closed captioning is also available on most movie theaters, so you can still enjoy your favorite films without having to miss a thing.

If you’re learning English as a second language, closed captioning can help you improve your understanding of the spoken word. It can also help you learn new words and phrases.

If you’re watching TV in a noisy environment, closed captioning can help you hear the dialogue and sound effects over the noise.

If you’re trying to avoid spoilers, closed captioning can help you read the dialogue and sound effects before they’re played. This can be especially helpful for shows like Game of Thrones that are full of surprises.

Is Closed Captioning Required By Law7 min read