Goto Section: 79.102 | 79.104 | Table of Contents
FCC 79.103
Revised as of October 2, 2015
Goto Year:2014 |
2016
§ 79.103 Closed caption decoder requirements for apparatus.
(a) Effective January 1, 2014, all digital apparatus designed to receive or
play back video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound, if such
apparatus is manufactured in the United States or imported for use in the
United States and uses a picture screen of any size must be equipped with
built-in closed caption decoder circuitry or capability designed to display
closed-captioned video programming pursuant to the provisions of this
section, if technically feasible, except that apparatus that use a picture
screen less than 13 inches in size must comply with the provisions of this
section only if doing so is achievable as defined in this section.
Note 1 to paragraph (a): Apparatus includes the physical device and the
video player(s) capable of displaying video programming transmitted
simultaneously with sound that manufacturers install into the devices they
manufacture before sale, whether in the form of hardware, software, or a
combination of both, as well as any video players capable of displaying
video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound that manufacturers
direct consumers to install after sale.
Note 2 to paragraph (a): This paragraph places no restrictions on the
importing, shipping, or sale of apparatus that were manufactured before
January 1, 2014.
(b) Exempt apparatus—(1) Display-only monitors. Apparatus or class of
apparatus that are display-only video monitors with no playback capability
are not required to comply with the provisions of this section.
(2) Professional or commercial equipment. Apparatus or class of apparatus
that are professional or commercial equipment not typically used by the
public are not required to comply with the provisions of this section.
(3)(i) Achievable. Manufacturers of apparatus that use a picture screen of
less than 13 inches in size may petition the Commission for a full or
partial exemption from the closed captioning requirements of this section
pursuant to § 1.41 of this chapter, which the Commission may grant upon a
finding that the requirements of this section are not achievable, or may
assert that such apparatus is fully or partially exempt as a response to a
complaint, which the Commission may dismiss upon a finding that the
requirements of this section are not achievable.
(ii) The petitioner or respondent must support a petition for exemption or a
response to a complaint with sufficient evidence to demonstrate that
compliance with the requirements of this section is not “achievable” where
“achievable” means with reasonable effort or expense. The Commission will
consider the following factors when determining whether the requirements of
this section are not “achievable:”
(A) The nature and cost of the steps needed to meet the requirements of this
section with respect to the specific equipment or service in question;
(B) The technical and economic impact on the operation of the manufacturer
or provider and on the operation of the specific equipment or service in
question, including on the development and deployment of new communications
technologies;
(C) The type of operations of the manufacturer or provider; and
(D) The extent to which the service provider or manufacturer in question
offers accessible services or equipment containing varying degrees of
functionality and features, and offered at differing price points.
(4) Waiver. Manufacturers of apparatus may petition the Commission for a
full or partial waiver of the closed captioning requirements of this
section, which the Commission may grant, upon a finding that the apparatus
meets one of the following provisions:
(i) The apparatus is primarily designed for activities other than receiving
or playing back video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound; or
(ii) The apparatus is designed for multiple purposes, capable of receiving
or playing back video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound but
whose essential utility is derived from other purposes.
(c) Specific technical capabilities. All apparatus subject to this section
shall implement the following captioning functionality:
(1) Presentation. All apparatus shall implement captioning such that the
caption text may be displayed within one or separate caption windows and
supporting the following modes: text that appears all at once (pop-on), text
that scrolls up as new text appears (roll-up), and text where each new
letter or word is displayed as it arrives (paint-on).
(2) Character color. All apparatus shall implement captioning such that
characters may be displayed in the 64 colors defined in CEA-708 and such
that users are provided with the ability to override the authored color for
characters and select from a palette of at least 8 colors including: white,
black, red, green, blue, yellow, magenta, and cyan.
(3) Character opacity. All apparatus shall implement captioning such that
users are provided with the ability to vary the opacity of captioned text
and select between opaque and semi-transparent opacities.
(4) Character size. All apparatus shall implement captioning such that users
are provided with the ability to vary the size of captioned text and shall
provide a range of such sizes from 50% of the default character size to 200%
of the default character size.
(5) Fonts. All apparatus shall implement captioning such that fonts are
available to implement the eight fonts required by CEA-708 and § 79.102(k).
Users must be provided with the ability to assign the fonts included on
their apparatus as the default font for each of the eight styles contained
in § 79.102(k).
(6) Caption background color and opacity. All apparatus shall implement
captioning such that the caption background may be displayed in the 64
colors defined in CEA-708 and such that users are provided with the ability
to override the authored color for the caption background and select from a
palette of at least 8 colors including: white, black, red, green, blue,
yellow, magenta, and cyan. All apparatus shall implement captioning such
that users are provided with the ability to vary the opacity of the caption
background and select between opaque, semi-transparent, and transparent
background opacities.
(7) Character edge attributes. All apparatus shall implement captioning such
that character edge attributes may be displayed and users are provided the
ability to select character edge attributes including: no edge attribute,
raised edges, depressed edges, uniform edges, and drop shadowed edges.
(8) Caption window color. All apparatus shall implement captioning such that
the caption window color may be displayed in the 64 colors defined in
CEA-708 and such that users are provided with the ability to override the
authored color for the caption window and select from a palette of at least
8 colors including: white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, magenta, and
cyan. All apparatus shall implement captioning such that users are provided
with the ability to vary the opacity of the caption window and select
between opaque, semi-transparent, and transparent background opacities.
(9) Language. All apparatus must implement the ability to select between
caption tracks in additional languages when such tracks are present and
provide the ability for the user to select simplified or reduced captions
when such captions are available and identify such a caption track as “easy
reader.”
(10) Preview and setting retention. All apparatus must provide the ability
for the user to preview default and user selection of the caption features
required by this section, and must retain such settings as the default
caption configuration until changed by the user.
(11) Safe Harbor. Apparatus which implement Society of Motion Picture and
Television Engineers Timed Text format (SMPTE ST 2052-1:2010 incorporated by
reference, see § 79.100) with respect to the functionality in paragraphs
(c)(1) through (10) of this section shall be deemed in compliance with
paragraph (c) of this section.
Note to paragraph (c): Where video programming providers or distributors
subject to § 79.4 of this part display or render captions, they shall
implement the functional requirements contained in paragraphs (c)(1) through
(10) of this section unless doing so is economically burdensome as defined
in § 79.4(d).
(d) Interconnection. All video outputs of covered apparatus shall be capable
of conveying from the source device to the consumer equipment the
information necessary to permit or render the display of closed captions.
[ 77 FR 19518 , Mar. 30, 2012, as amended at 78 FR 39628 , July 2, 2013]
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Goto Section: 79.102 | 79.104
Goto Year: 2014 |
2016
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