Closed Captioning

State of Rhode Island

Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Executive Department/Established in 1977. Restructured in 1992.

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Please note: ASL and Captioned Videos with more information are available below (under National Association of the Deaf on this page).

Federal Communications Commission:

How Do I complain if I Think Someone is Not Complying with the FCC's Requirements?

If you have a complaint, you can first contact the video programming distributor, although you are not required to do so. You can also complain to the FCC. Your complaint should include:

  • The name of the video programming distributor (and cable or satellite distributors, if applicable) against whom the complaint is alleged;
  • The date and time of the omission of emergency information; and
  • The type of emergency.

You may contact the FCC by letter, fax, telephone (voice/TRS/TTY), Internet e-mail, audio-cassette recording, Braille, or any other method that would best accommodate your disability. Send your complaint to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Phone: 1-888-225-5322 (voice); 1-888-835-5322 (TTY)
E-mail : fccinfo@fcc.gov
Internet: www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.htm
Fax: 202-418-0232

What Happens After I File a Complaint?

The FCC will notify the video programming distributor of the complaint, and the distributor will reply to the complaint within 30 days. Based on the information in the complaint and the response, and any other information the FCC may request from either party, the FCC will make its decision and take the appropriate action. To learn more about the FCC's requirements for access to televised emergency programming, visit the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau's Web site at www.fcc.gov/cgb.

(The sources are obtained from the Federal Communication Commission.)

National Association of the Deaf:

Television Closed Captioning Complaints

YouTube Description: NAD explains how to file a complaint regarding captioning on television.

YouTube Video

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for enforcing closed captioning requirements for television programs.

When you see a television program that has no captions, missing captions, delayed captions, captions that are garbled, displayed too fast, or unreadable, you can file a complaint.

Closed captioning complaints must be sent first to your local television station, cable television provider, or satellite television service. If they cannot solve the problem, or you are not satisfied with the response you receive (or if you receive no response), you can send your complaint to the FCC http://www.fcc.gov/complaints. Select "Disability Access to Communications Services and Equipment".

To get contact information for your local television station, cable television provider or satellite television provider, go to: http://esupport.fcc.gov/vpd-search/search.action#scrollThere. Enter your zip code and click on the box to choose who you want to direct your complaint to -- broadcaster, cable, telephone company, satellite or other. Then click the blue “Search” button and you’ll get a list. Choose your provider and with one more click on the green button "View details", you’ll have the information you need. Bookmark this link so you can easily locate your provider next time you see problems with captioning on your favorite TV program!

ASL Consumer Support Line

The FCC allows direct video access for consumers to contact the FCC.

When you file a complaint, please let the NAD know, so we can see if we can provide assistance with your case.

For more information about filing closed captioning complaints, see the FCC’s Tips on Filing Closed Captioning Complaints at http://www.fcc.gov/guides/closed-captioning.

Emergency Information on Television

YouTube Description: NAD shares information on how a deaf or hard of hearing person can file a complaint when televised emergency information is not accessible.

YouTube Video

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires broadcasters and cable operators to make local emergency information accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. This rule means that televised audio emergency information must be provided in a visual format. For more information, see Access to Televised Emergency Information.

When you have a complaint about a failure to provide televised emergency information in an accessible format, you can – but are not required to – try to resolve the problem with the video programming distributor.

You can file your complaint with FCC using the FCC Form 2000-C, available online at http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm. (Select "Disability Access to Communications Services and Equipment"). You can also file your complaint with the FCC's Consumer Center by e-mail to fccinfo@fcc.gov; by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; or by faxing your complaint to 1-866-418-0232.

When you file a complaint, please let the NAD know, so we can see if we can provide assistance with your case.

For more information about filing a complaint about televised emergency information, see the FCC’s Consumer Fact Sheet at www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/emergencyvideo.html or http://www.nad.org/issues/television-and-closed-captioning/access-televised-emergency-information.

(The sources are obtained from the National Association of the Deaf.)