1STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN
Re:  Closed Captioning of Video Programming; Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 
Inc. Petition for Rulemaking, CG Docket No. 05-231.
Just over nineteen years ago the Commission adopted its first set of closed captioning rules. This 
decision marked a major first step in granting full access to video programming for deaf and hearing 
impaired citizens.
Much has changed since 1997, and today it is most fitting for us to update these rules, reflecting 
the insights gained from the experiences by industry, advocates and the FCC.  
First, this item will place the responsibility for closed captioning quality on video programming 
distributors as well as video programmers.  Each will be held accountable, both for the provisioning and 
the quality of closed captioning issues that are primarily within their control -- a common-sense update, to 
be sure.  Video programming distributors will continue to be responsible for the provisioning of closed 
captioning, but now video programmers will be held responsible for the absence of captions, if they fail to 
provide them.
This item also enhances the transparency of compliance certifications and updates complaint 
procedures, whether those complaints are received by the Commission or the video programming 
distributor.  It is my hope that these updates will not only help in compliance with our closed captioning 
rules but will assist in streamlining the resolution of closed captioning complaints or problems going 
forward.
Many thanks for this item are due to the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, most 
notably Karen Peltz Strauss and Eliot Greenwald.