COAT Applauds FCC For Easier On-line Captioning Complaint Filing Process

February 19, 2010.  COAT applauds the new closed captioning complaint procedure at the FCC that permits direct filing on-line. Previously, consumers had to first send complaints, in writing, to "distributors" of television, such as cable & satellite TV companies or broadcast TV stations and wait for a response before filing at the FCC.  COAT affiliates CSD, NAD, NVRC, & TDI were instrumental in influencing the FCC to take up this "best practice."

The new rule also requires video programming distributors to have their contact information for the handling of immediate closed captioning concerns and written complaints ("point of contact information") on the FCC website. This information is likely to be posted in April once the FCC collects it.

The new procedure was first announced by the FCC on November 7, 2008 pending review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); it became effective  February 19, 2010.

Consumers can now file complaints directly when seeing a television program that has no captions, missing captions, delayed captions, captions that are garbled, displayed too fast, or unreadable. Note that complaints must be filed within 60 days of the captioning problem. After filing it online at the FCC, the FCC will send the complaint to the responsible video programming distributor (the TV station or your cable or satellite TV service).  The distributor must respond within 30 days.

FCC Form 2000C Online Complaint Form

FCC Closed Captioning Fact Sheet (updated)

FCC Info on Captioning and Digital TV (updated)

FCC Info on Captioning and DTV Converter Boxes (updated)

For more information on the captioning rules, visit the FCC website.