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IF YOU CURRENTLY USE AVAILABLE VIDEO DESCRIPTIONS TO
ACCESS TELEVISION PROGRAMMING, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING
REGARDING THE DIGITAL TELEVISION (DTV) TRANSITION:
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By June 12, 2009, all full power broadcast
television stations will broadcast only in digital format.
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Your local broadcasters may make the transition
before then, and some already have. So be ready.
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The DTV transition will provide broadcasters with a
greater number of audio channels with which they may provide voluntary
video description.
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Digital-to-analog converter boxes are not required
to process all associated audio services broadcast by a DTV station, so
consumers should check with manufacturers and retailers to learn more
about whether specific digital-to-analog converter boxes are able to
provide video descriptions.
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Although televisions with digital tuners should be
able to process the audio services associated with DTV signals,
consumers should confirm that a particular digital television includes
this feature by checking with the appropriate manufacturer or retailer.
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If purchasing a digital television or
digital-to-analog converter box, consumers should ask the manufacturer
or retailer how audio streams are accessed, and whether the remote
control and on-screen menus are accessible to individuals with vision
disabilities.
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Consumers using multi-channel video services (e.g.,
cable or satellite) should ask their service provider for additional
information about the availability of video description. To the extent
that such providers receive programming with video description, those
video descriptions should be delivered to the consumer.
Video Description Background
Video descriptions are a way to inform people who are
blind or have other vision disabilities of what is happening on the
television screen. Video description is the insertion of verbal descriptions
about the setting and/or action in a program when information about these
visual elements is not contained in the audio portion of the program. These
descriptions supplement the regular audio track of the program.
Some programming has contained video descriptions for a
number of years. At present, video descriptions are available through the
secondary audio programming (SAP) channel on an analog stereo TV set or VCR.
In July 2000, the FCC adopted rules to make television
more accessible to people with vision disabilities by mandating that a
certain amount of programming contain video description. These rules took
effect in April 2002, but were vacated by a federal court in November 2002.
As a result, video description is not required. Nevertheless, some
programming providers voluntarily continue to provide video descriptions.
Also, the requirement in Section 79.2 of the FCC’s rules that emergency
information provided on television be accessible to individuals who have
vision disabilities is still in place. This means that broadcasters must
orally describe any emergency information that is shown on the screen (e.g.,
weather map showing tornadoes) and must accompany any emergency information
that is not orally described (i.e., information presented in a crawl or
scroll) with an aural tone which instructs individuals with vision
disabilities to turn to a radio or another source for more information.
Impact of Digital Television Transition on Video
Description
With digital television, broadcasters have more audio
channels on which to provide video description. Because digital television
encodes audio in a different manner than the encoding used in analog
television, digital television does not utilize a SAP channel to transmit
video descriptions. The digital television standards provide for two types
of main audio service and six types of associated services, including
associated services for people with vision disabilities. The standards also
permit the transmission of secondary language programming. So while there
was one option under the old analog TV service (i.e., the SAP channel),
broadcasters now have more audio channels to provide this voluntary service.
However, we note that inserting video descriptions into digital programming
that was not created by the distributor may involve additional expense for
broadcasters; for this reason, consumers should contact their local
broadcasters to determine whether video description is offered.
Televisions with digital tuners should be able to
process the audio services associated with the digital TV signals through
functions that are built into their systems. Consumers should confirm with
the manufacturer, owner’s manual or retailer prior to purchase to determine
if this feature is included in the digital TV. For consumers who will be
using a digital-to-analog converter box to receive digital over-the-air
television signals on an analog television, we note that some of the
digital-to-analog converter boxes that have been approved for NTIA coupon
eligibility are capable of processing the associated audio services that are
broadcast by a digital television station. In particular, the WGBH National
Center for Accessible Media, located in Boston, Massachusetts, has found
that two specific coupon-eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes – the
Digital Stream DTX 9900 and Insignia NS-DXA1 – have demonstrated the
capability to pass through video description.¹ (Federal law provides for two
$40.00 coupons per household to defer the costs of the digital-to-analog
converter boxes. Please note that these coupons will expire 90 days after
mailing. Consumers may find out more information about this coupon
program, administered by the NTIA, at
www.dtv.gov or at
www.dtv2009.gov, or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009.) However, because
coupon-eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes are not required to have
this feature, consumers are advised to check with the manufacturer, owner’s
manual or retailer prior to purchase to determine if a specific
digital-to-analog converter box will serve their particular needs. Accessing
additional audio program streams (including video description) typically
occurs either though a designated button on the remote control or through an
on-screen menu. Unfortunately, if the controls on the television or
digital-to-analog converter box are not accessible to people with vision
disabilities, it may be a challenge to obtain the descriptions. In such
cases, the consumer must know which audio stream the video description is on
in advance, as well as how to access this channel. We therefore urge
consumers to ask the manufacturer or retailer how audio streams are accessed
prior to purchasing a digital television or digital-to-analog converter box.
In addition, the consumer should ask whether the on-screen menus – as well
as the remote controls that are used to access the on-screen menus – are
accessible to individuals who have vision disabilities. Finally, the
consumer should contact local television stations to see if they are
transmitting video descriptions, and if so, for which programs.
Consumers using cable or satellite services should ask
for additional information about the availability of video description from
their service providers. To the extent that cable systems, satellite systems
or other multi-channel video programming distributors receive programming
with video description, those video descriptions should be delivered to the
consumer. As with broadcast television, subscription-based television
consumers must ensure that their television is capable of displaying
available video descriptions and that video description functionality may be
accessed by people with vision disabilities.
For More Information
To find out more about the digital television
transition, visit our Web site at www.dtv.gov. For more information about
telecommunications issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau Web site at www.fcc.gov/cgb, or contact the FCC’s
Consumer Center by e-mailing
fccinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or
1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554.
¹ WGBH’s National Center for Accessible Media is not
affiliated in any way with the FCC, nor is this an endorsement of either the
Digital Stream or Insignia digital-to-analog converter box by the FCC. The
FCC does not endorse any particular converter box. We also note that this is
not intended to provide an exhaustive list; other coupon-eligible
digital-to-analog converter boxes also may have the ability to pass through
video description. To the extent other boxes with this functionality exist
and are brought to our attention, we will update this advisory.
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Federal Communications Commission · Consumer
& Governmental Affairs Bureau · 445 12th St. S.W. ·
Washington, DC 20554 |
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1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) ·
TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) · Fax: 1-866-418-0232 · www.fcc.gov/cgb/
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Federal Communications Commission
