Aberdeen Closed Captioning

Post-Production Captioning

• Closed Captioning
• Subtitles
• Transcription
• Webcasts
• DVD
• Dubbing and Distribution
• NLEdirect

Live Captioning

• TV Broadcasts
• Meetings and Seminars
• Webcasting

Industry News and Events

Section: www.section508.gov

Section 508 is the 1998 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act. It requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Multimedia products include: DVD, DC-ROM and streaming video.

This law applies to all federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology.

All government agencies must have their videos and other multimedia closed- or open-captioned for hearing impaired as well as audio described for visually impaired people.

TELECOMMUNICAITON ACT OF 1996

English Language Captioning Regulations
New programming* requirements for program distributors is measured on a quarterly basis and must meet the minimums:

• Effective January 1, 2006, 100% of distributor’s new programming must be captioned.

Pre-rule programming** requirements for program distributors is measured on a quarterly basis and must meet the minimums:

• Effective January 1, 2003, 30% of all pre-rule programming must be captioned.
• Effective January 1, 2012, 75% of all pre-rule programming must be captioned.

Spanish Language Captioning Regulations
New programming*** requirements for program distributors is measured on a quarterly basis and must meet the minimums:

• Effective January 1, 2004, 900 hours per quarter
• Effective January 1, 2007, 1,350 hours per quarter
• Effective January 1, 2010, 100% of programming

Pre-rule programming† requirements for program distributors is measured on a quarterly basis and must meet the minimums:

• Effective January 1, 2005, 30% of programming must be captioned.
• Effective January 1, 2012, 75% of programming must be captioned.

TELEVISION DECODER CIRCUITRY ACT OF 1990
All televisions, 13 inches and larger, manufactured after 1993 are required to have a built-in decoder.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
The 1990 law mandates that all educational and instructional videotapes be accessible to the hearing impaired and deaf population. Organizations must provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to allow an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of a service, program or activity conducted by a public entity. The ADA applies to state and local governments as well as public and some private organizations.

TAX CREDIT
Tax credits are available to certain organizations that provide captioning. Form 8826, the Disabled Access Credit, from the IRS can be downloaded from the IRS website. Click download IRS form 8886. (link)

*New programming is defined as a program presented on the network on or after January 1, 1998. For DTV programs, the cutoff date is July 1, 2002.

**New programming is defined as a program produced and exhibited on or after January 1, 1998. For DTV programs, prior to 2002.

***New programming is defined as a program presented on the network on or after January 1, 1998.

†Pre-rule programming is defined as programs produced and exhibited before January 1, 1998.

Events

National Religious Broadcasters National Convention
March 8-11, 2008
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Nashville, TN

© 2007 All Rights Reserved