February 23, 2005
The FCC Enforcement Division has proposed three forfeitures totaling $65,000 against three San Diego TV broadcasters for failure to make aurally presented emergency information accessible to viewers with hearing loss. This action was in response to complaints by made by Larry Sivertson of Clairemont, CA, citing failures of the broadcasters to provide captions in broadcasts of wildfire emergency news in 2003.
FCC Chairman Powell issued a statement noting that “Today's Enforcement Bureau actions are the first in the Commission's history regarding its emergency closed captioning rules. People with hearing disabilities have a right to the same timely emergency information as stations provide to their hearing audiences."
