ming for individuals who are blind or visually- 
impaired. 
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS FOR RULES.— 
‘‘(A) Such regulations shall include an ap-
propriate schedule of deadlines for the provision 
of video description of video programming. 
‘‘(B) Such regulations may permit a pro-
vider of video programming or program owner 
to petition the Commission for an exemption 
from the requirements of this section upon a 
showing that the requirements contained in this 
section would result in an undue burden (as de-
fined in subsection (e)). A provider shall be ex-
empt from such requirements only after the 
Commission decides to grant any such petition. 
‘‘(C) The Commission may exempt from 
the regulations established pursuant to para-
graph (2)(C) services, classes of services, pro-
grams, classes of programs, equipment, or 
classes of equipment for which the Commission 
has determined that the application of such reg-
ulations would be economically burdensome to 
the providers of such services. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
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‘‘(1) VIDEO DESCRIPTION.—The term ‘video de-
scription’ means the insertion of audio narrated de-
scriptions of the video programming’s key visual ele-
ments into natural pauses between the program’s 
dialogue. 
‘‘(2) VIDEO PROGRAMMING.—The term ‘video 
programming’ means programming provided by, or 
generally considered comparable to programming 
provided by, a television broadcast station, even if 
such programming is distributed over the Internet or 
by some other means.’’. 
(b) CLOSED CAPTIONING ON VIDEO PROGRAMMING 
DISTRIBUTED OVER
THE INTERNET.—Section 713 of 
such Act is further amended by striking subsection (c) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) DEADLINES FOR CAPTIONING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Such regulations shall in-
clude an appropriate schedule of deadlines for the 
provision of closed captioning of video programming. 
‘‘(2) DEADLINES FOR INTERNET-DISTRIBUTED 
PROGRAMMING.— 
‘‘(A) Within 18 months after the date of 
date of enactment of the Twenty-first Century 
Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 
2008, the Commission shall prescribe regula-
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tions that include an appropriate schedule of 
deadlines for the provision of closed captioning 
of video programming distributed to the public 
over the Internet. 
‘‘(B) Consistent with the regulations pro-
mulgated under subsection (b), the regulations 
prescribed under this paragraph shall ensure 
the accessibility of video programming through 
the provision of captions on— 
‘‘(i) pre-produced video programming 
that was previously captioned for television 
viewing; 
‘‘(ii) live video programming; and 
‘‘(iii) video programming first pub-
lished or exhibited after the effective date 
of such regulations provided by or gen-
erally considered to be comparable to pro-
gramming provided by multichannel pro-
gramming distributors.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 713(d) of 
such Act is amended by striking paragraph (3) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(3) a provider of video programming or pro-
gram owner may petition the Commission for an ex-
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emption from the requirements of this section, 
and— 
‘‘(A) the Commission may grant such peti-
tion upon a showing that the requirements con-
tained in this section would result in an undue 
burden; and 
‘‘(B) such exemption shall be effective only 
after the Commission grants such petition.’’. 
SEC. 204. USER INTERFACES REGULATIONS. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 303 of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 303) is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(z)(1) Require— 
‘‘(A) that every apparatus designed to receive 
or display video programming transmitted simulta-
neously with sound, including apparatus designed to 
receive or display video programming transmitted by 
means of IP-enabled communication services, be de-
signed, developed, and fabricated so that control of 
all apparatus functions enabling the receipt, display, 
navigation, or selection of video programming (and 
any other functions shared by, related to, or nec-
essary to access such apparatus functions), are ac-
cessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; 
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‘‘(B) that where on-screen text menus or other 
visual indicators are used to access the functions de-
scribed in subparagraph (A), such apparatus be ac-
companied by audio output, so that such menus or 
indicators are accessible to and usable by individuals 
who are blind or visually impaired; and 
‘‘(C) a conspicuous means of accessing closed 
captioning and video description, including— 
‘‘(i) the inclusion of a button on the re-
mote control of such apparatus designated for 
activating the closed caption function; and 
‘‘(ii) the inclusion of ‘closed captions’ and 
‘video description’ on the top tier of the on- 
screen menu of such apparatus. 
‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, the terms ‘video 
description’ and ‘video programming’ have the meanings 
given such terms in section 713(g).’’. 
(b) 
IMPLEMENTING
REGULATIONS.—Within 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Fed-
eral Communications Commission shall prescribe such reg-
ulations as are necessary to implement, and are technically 
feasible for implementing, the amendments made by sub-
section (a). 
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