FCC reverses almost 300 captioning exemptions

In response to numerous calls for review from deaf and hard-of-hearing advocacy groups, the FCC has reversed a 2006 order that allowed hundreds of organizations to claim exemptions from captioning requirements. The order had appeared to create a new blanket exemption to mandatory captioning rules based on “hardship” and resulted in an unprecedented increase in petitions for exemptions. As a result of the reversal, almost 300 petitioners must file a new petition with updated information to support their claims of economic burden within 90 days. The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (of which NCRA is a member) commended the FCC for reversing the order and “[paving] the way to ensuring more ubiquitous captioning in the future."