Source: https://www.fcc.gov/print/node/41165
Timestamp: 2015-08-29 22:11:39
Document Index: 392925365

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 79', '§ 79', '§ 613', '§ 79', '§ 79', '§ 613', '§ 79', '§ 79', '§ 202', '§ 613', '§ 202', '§ 613', '§ 79']

Word Document [1]PDF Document [2]Text Document [3]	Released: July 20, 2012
Section 713 of the Act authorizes the Commission to grant individual exemptions from the television closed captioning requirements. Individual exemptions are considered on a case-by-case basis upon submission of a petition to the Commission.7 As originally enacted, section 713 authorized the Commission to grant individual closed captioning exemptions upon a showing that providing closed captioning would “result in an undue burden.” 8 Section 713(e) of the Act defines “undue burden” to mean “significant difficulty or expense,” and directs the Commission to consider the following factors in making undue burden determinations: (1) the nature and cost of the closed captions for the programming; (2) the impact on the operation of the provider or program owner; (3) the financial resources of the provider or program owner; and (4) the type of operations of the provider or program owner.9 4.
The CVAA amended section 713(d)(3) of the Act by replacing the term “undue burden” with the term “economically burdensome.”10 As amended, section 713(d)(3) states:
A provider of video programming or program owner may petition the Commission for an exemption from the requirements of this section, and the Commission may grant such petition upon a showing that the requirements contained in this section would be economically burdensome.11
(...continued from previous page)Programming Accessibility, MM Docket No. 95-176, Order on Reconsideration, 13 FCC Rcd 19973 (1998) (“Closed Captioning Reconsideration Order”). 5 A “video programming distributor” is defined as (1) any television broadcast station licensed by the Commission; (2) any multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) as defined in Section 76.1000(e); and (3) any other distributor of video programming for residential reception that delivers such programming directly to the home and is subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission. 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(a)(2). 6 47 C.F.R. §§ 79.1(b)(1)(iv) and (b)(3)(iv).7 47 U.S.C. § 613(d)(3). Any entity in the programming distribution chain, including the provider, producer or owner of the programming, may petition the Commission for an individual exemption under section 79.1(f) of the Commission’s rules. A “video programming provider” is defined as “[a]ny video programming distributor and any other entity that provides video programming that is intended for distribution to residential households including, but not limited to broadcast or nonbroadcast television network and the owners of such programming.” 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(a)(3). A petitioner may seek an exemption for “a channel of video programming, a category or type of video programming, an individual video service, a specific video program or a video programming provider.” 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(f)(1). 8 Pub. L. 104-104, Title III, sec. 305, 110 Stat. 126 (1996) (1996 Amendments to Communications Act.) 9 47 U.S.C. § 613(e). The Commission’s rules mirror the statutory criteria for making undue burden determinations. See 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(f)(2). Any petitioner filing under this section also may present for the Commission’s consideration “any other factors the petitioner deems relevant to the Commission’s final determination,” including alternatives that might constitute a reasonable substitute for closed captioning. 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(f)(3). 10 Pub. L. No. 111-260 § 202(c), amending 47 U.S.C. § 613(d)(3). The CVAA made two additional changes tosection 713(d) of the Act. First, the new law codifies existing Commission policy that during the pendency of an exemption petition, a provider or owner shall be exempt from having to provide closed captioning. Pub. L. No. 111-260 § 202(c), amending 47 U.S.C. § 613(d)(3). See also 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(f)(11). Second, Congress directed the Commission to act upon an exemption petition filed under section 713(d) of the Act within six months after receiving the petition, unless the Commission finds that an extensio