The station needs to have a closed caption encoder, two non-internet phone lines (one for the audio for the captioner and one to send the caption data into the encoder) and an audio coupler to allow audio from the broadcast to be sent via telephone line.
How do you measure/judge quality?
Our live captioners access scripts to confirm correct proper name spelling and prepare in advance for broadcasts. We know our accuracy rate exceeds 98.5% because we check. Our quality guru is a retired English teacher. Our captioners submit all of the caption files from broadcasts, and a random sample of their work is graded on spelling and punctuation.
What is C.A.R.T.? (Live Event Captioning)
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is the instant translation of the spoken word into text via live captioning. CART provides access for deaf and hard of hearing participants to events, conventions, conferences classes, public hearings, presentations and meetings. Our captioner attends the event and provides an individual view on a laptop display or connects to a projector or television to give the whole audience access to captions.
What are the FCC requirements for television programming?
Different captioning requirements apply to new and pre-rule programming. Certain exemptions from the captioning requirements apply to both of these categories of programming.
- New Programming: As of January 1, 2006, all new English language programming, defined as analog programming first published or exhibited on or after January 1, 1998, and digital programming first aired on or after July 1, 2002, must be captioned, with some exceptions.
- Pre-rule Programming: Analog programming first shown before January 1, 1998, and digital programming first shown before July 1, 2002, are called "Pre-Rule Programming." Pre-Rule Programming that is not exempt from the closed captioning rules must be captioned as follows:
- January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2011: 30 percent of programming per channel per quarter.
- January 1, 2008, and thereafter: 75 percent of programming per channel per quarter.
(Courtesy FCC website)
For more information visit the FCC's web site, www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/caption.html, or call the FCC toll-free at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322), TTY 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322).
What does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) say about captioning?
"SEC. 711. CLOSED-CAPTIONING OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
As directed by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted rules requiring the closed captioning of most television programming. Any television public service announcement that is produced or funded in whole or in part by any agency or instrumentality of federal government shall include closed captioning of the verbal content of such announcement. A television broadcast station licensee--
(1) shall not be required to supply closed captioning for any such announcement that fails to include it; and
(2) shall not be liable for broadcasting any such announcement without transmitting a closed caption unless the licensee intentionally fails to transmit the closed caption that was included with the announcement."
What is Section 508?
In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act with Section 508, requiring federal agencies to give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others. The law applies to all federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain or use electronic and information technology.
In accordance with Section 508, all training and informational video and multimedia productions which support the agency's mission, that contain speech or other audio information necessary for the comprehension of the content, require open or closed captions and audio description.
(courtesy Section508.gov)
