SUMMARY OF FCC DTVCC REQUIREMENTS

Decoder Operation 

The Order adopts the requirement of Section 9 of EIA-708, with the following modifications:

* Decoders must support the standard, large, and small caption sizes and must allow the caption provider to choose a size and allow the viewer to choose an alternative size.

* Decoders must support the eight fonts listed in EIA-708.(1)  Caption providers may specify 1 of these 8 font styles to be used to write caption text. Decoders must include the ability for consumers to choose among the eight fonts.  The decoder must display the font chosen by the caption provider unless the viewer chooses a different font.

* Decoders must implement the same 8 character background colors as those that Section 9 requires be implemented for character foreground (white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, magenta and cyan).

* Decoders must implement options for altering the appearance of caption character edges.

* Decoders must display the color chosen by the caption provider, and must allow viewers to override the foreground and/or background color chosen by the caption provider and select alternate colors.

* Decoders must be capable of decoding and processing data for the six standard services, but information from only one service need be displayed at a given time.

* Decoders must include an option that permits a viewer to choose a setting that will display captions as intended by the caption provider (a default).  Decoders must also include an option that allows a viewer's chosen settings to remain until the viewer chooses to alter these settings, including during periods when the television is turned off.

* Cable providers and other multichannel video programming distributors must transmit captions in a format that will be understandable to this decoder circuitry in digital cable television sets when transmitting programming to digital television devices.


Covered Devices

* All digital television receivers with picture screens in the 4:3 aspect ratio measuring at least 13 inches diagonally, digital television receivers with picture screens in the 16:9 aspect ratio measuring 7.8 inches or larger vertically (this size corresponds to the vertical height of an analog receiver with a 13 inch diagonal), and all DTV tuners, shipped in interstate commerce or manufactured in the United States must comply with the minimum decoder requirements we are adopting here.

* The rules apply to DTV tuners whether or not they are marketed with display screens.

* Converter boxes used to display digital programming on analog receivers must deliver the encoded "analog" caption information to the attached analog receiver.


Compliance Dates

* Manufacturers must begin to include DTV closed caption functionality in DTV devices in accordance with the rules adopted in the Order by July 1, 2002.

* As provided for in the Commission's rules establishing requirements for the closed captioning of video programming adopted in a 1997 Order, programming prepared or formatted for display on digital television receivers before the date that digital television decoders are required to be included in digital television devices is considered "pre-rule" programming.  As stated above, this order establishes that date as July 1, 2002.  Therefore, programming prepared or formatted for display on digital television after that date will be considered new programming.  The existing rules require an increasing amount of captioned new programming over an eight-year transition period with 100% of all new nonexempt programming required to be captioned by January 1, 2006.

(1) The eight font styles are defined as follows: default (undefined), monospaced with serifs (similar to Courier), proportionally spaced with serifs (similar to Times New Roman), monospaced without serifs (similar to Helvetica Monospaced), proportionally spaced without serifs (similar to Arial and Swiss), casual font type (similar to Dom and Impress), cursive font type (similar to Coronet and Marigold), and small capitals (similar to Engravers Gothic).  In parentheses following each font style is a reference to one or more fonts which are similar to the style.