[opendtv] FCC eyes changes to online video clips

From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2014 07:02:45 -0400
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/07/05/fcc-eyes-changes-to-online-video-clips-businesses-say-dont-underestimate/?intcmp=latestnews

FCC eyes changes to online video clips, businesses say don't 'underestimate the 
Difficulty

The Federal Communications Commission is set to decide next week on whether 
online video clips must include closed captioning -- a rule that if approved 
would help hearing-impaired viewers but could prove costly and time-consuming 
for businesses.

The five-member commission will vote Friday on the proposed rule change, which 
will apply specifically to clips that have already appeared on TV with captions 
and would follow a similar, 2012 rule on full-length videos.

Such a change is supported by commission Chairman Tom Wheeler, who since being 
sworn in six months ago has made clear his keen interest in hearing-impaired 
issues.

“The commission previously adopted closed-captioning requirements for 
full-length video programming online,” he said last month. “I proposed … we go 
further and require captioning for video clips that end up on the Internet. 
Those who hear with their eyes should not be disadvantaged in their ability to 
access video information on the Internet.”

The change also has support from Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey, who 
as a House member sponsored the 2010 Twenty-First Century Communication and 
Video Act, under which closed-captioning changes are being made.

A Markey spokeswoman said Wednesday that the senator hopes the commission 
approves the rule change, which would impact an estimated 36 million Americans 
who are either deaf or have hearing disabilities.

However, businesses and their Washington advocates are concerned about the cost 
of the proposed changes and how quickly the FCC will require the clips be added 
to the videos.

In fact, high-ranking members of the National Association of Broadcasters met 
June 30 with two members of Wheeler’s legal team to discuss such issues, 
according to a letter obtained by FoxNews.com.

The association expressed its willingness to work with the FCC on the issues 
but urged the agency to consider the “many steps” required to add the captions 
and the added challenge of dealing with “time sensitive” clips, like those for 
breaking news or sports events.

The group said companies essentially need at least 12 business hours and warned 
that the process involves numerous web vendors “not within the FCC's 
jurisdiction.”

One of the major challenges is reformatting the clips for the many devices that 
consumers now use including computers, tablets and mobile devices.

“This is not a simple process,” the NAB said the July 2 letter to FCC Secretary 
Marlene H. Dortch. “The FCC must not underestimate the difficulty of this 
process.”

NAB spokesman Zamir Ahmed later told Fox News the association thinks the 
commission should adopt “sensible time frames” and “must shy away from 
unreasonable demands that would have adverse consequences for viewers by 
forcing video clips off the Internet.”

The outcome to Friday’s vote is expected to be close. Wheeler and Commissioner 
Jessica Rosenworcel, Democrats, are expected to vote in favor of changes, while 
Commissioners Ajit Pai and Michael O’Rielly, Republicans, are expected to 
oppose the changes, with the deciding vote perhaps coming from Commissioner 
Mignon Clyburn, a Democrat, a source said.

Similar groups have express concerns like those outlined by the NAB.

The Digital Media Association -- which represents Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and 
YouTube -- also warned that adding captions is not as simple as it may appear.

“The time and cost of enabling captions is not substantially less for a 
2-minute clip than for a 2-hour full-length movie,” the group told The Hill 
newspaper.
[opendtv] FCC eyes changes to online video clips

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