FCC s Consumer Advisory Committee Recommendation

Transcription

1 FCC s Consumer Advisory Committee Recommendation FCC DTV Closed Captioning and Video Description Task Force The following is a proposal for a FCC DTV Closed Captioning and Video Description Task Force (DTV CC & VD Task Force), to be created under the auspices of the FCC, that will enable the Commission to take a leadership role in ensuring continued access to closed captions and video description as our nation transitions from analog to digital television. The purpose of the task force will be to conduct an assessment of closed captioning and video description problems associated with DTV and to work with the FCC to find and disseminate solutions. Specifically, the task force will: Identify current and anticipated problems with the transmission and display of digital closed captions and video description; Evaluate the closed captioning and video description capabilities of digital equipment; and Develop solutions to ensure that closed captions and video description are passed through intact to the consumer. A. The Problems Closed Captioning Closed captioning users are finding it increasingly difficult to access and read captions as video program providers are making the transition to digital television. In addition to difficulties associated with finding captioning options on digital and HDTV equipment, consumers are experiencing the following problems that have made watching TV difficult, if not impossible: garbled captions missing captions captions running off the edge of the screen captions that appear only a split second and are unreadable captions appearing in the middle of the television screen (blocking faces and other important information on the screen) overlapping captions (two lines of captions displayed over each other) captions flashing on and off captions that are exceedingly small captions that inadvertently switch to text mode causing 95% of the screen image to be obscured. partial captions with the rest of the spoken words missing poor timing of captions (captions that appear several seconds or more after the spoken words, causing confusion in the dialog).

2 The following are some specific examples of frustrating situations that consumers have reported: Example #1: A viewer reported that captions were disappearing on an ABC HD affiliate channel (after a few seconds to a few minutes), but then reappearing after the viewer switched to another channel and then switched back to the first channel. Example #2: A viewer reported that the captions on a Fox HD channel were piling up one line on top of the other, making them impossible to read. When the viewer complained to the Time Warner cable company, she learned that this was happening at the Time Warner office as well, but still no resolution was achieved. Example #3: A viewer upgraded her cable package to receive HD channels and adjusted the digital settings to enable digital captions, but continued to receive captions in the old CEA-608 format. She then realized that the caption settings had to be set up via the digital cable box, not the HDTV itself. Ultimately, she learned that she needed to select 480p from the choice of settings (1080i, 480p, 480i and 720p) to get the digital captions to work smoothly. Example #4: After connecting a digital cable receiver box to a viewer s TV, it was discovered that there were no captions on analog programming. When the cable digital receiver box was removed, the captions returned. Neither the installer nor his managers could rectify the situation. The installer demanded that the customer sign for the equipment so he could leave; he told the customer that it was the television s fault and that the customer should call tech support. Example #5: A consumer purchased a Mitsubishi 65" HDTV that would not show captions from his DVD player. The consumer was told by Mitsubishi that the only way captions would pass through from the DVD to the TV was if he changed his cable connection from an HDMI cable to an RCA single video and two audio connections. This older means of connecting the equipment degraded the quality of the picture. In addition, the consumer learned that the connection from his HD satellite box to the Mitsubishi TV would similarly result in a degraded picture quality. The TV in question cost approximately $4,000; in the end, the consumer returned the TV. Consumers who have experienced these and other problems have had a difficult or impossible time tracking down the information needed from their cable companies, networks, broadcasters, sales associates or set-top box manufacturers to resolve their problems. More often than not, they have been given the run-around, with each of these entities assigning blame to each other, and none providing adequate or effective solutions. In fact, there are any of a dozen possible technical explanations for these failures, and it is often difficult for any one entity, on its own, to figure out what is causing any given problem, at any given time, on any given channel or piece of 2

3 equipment. Technical failures associated with accessing and displaying captions may stem from problems with local broadcast station signals, cable provider transmissions, broadcast and cable network transmission, consumer equipment that is purchased or leased from cable or satellite companies, satellite transmission signals, and/or improper encoding and transmission by caption providers. Some of the problems identified to date are: improper encoding of the DTV signal that results in missing or garbled captions (likely due to encoding equipment improperly handling CEA 608 to CEA 708 translation). lack of CEA 608 compatibility bytes in the 708 data stream resulting from ambiguity in FCC requirements for the pass through of 608 and 708 data. lack of knowledge at local cable and TV outlets on troubleshooting problems. highly difficult user interfaces causing users to conclude that captions and description are unavailable on their TV sets Video Description Although video description is not presently required, some television broadcasters do provide this access feature voluntarily on certain programs, and Congress is considering legislation to require that a modest amount of televised video programming contain this access feature. For this reason, it is important to address the sources of and resolutions for video description problems, along with captioning problems. The consumer experience associated with the ability of digital television services and equipment to process and deliver video description is varied, but many consumers are confronting the same types of problems that closed captioning users are having. The following is an example of one consumer s difficulties: A Direct TV subscriber who regularly used the SAP channel to access video description for the past four years noticed a month ago that the button that he had been accustomed to using suddenly stopped working. Now when he pushed the button, he found that it locked the channels and then unlocked them when it was pushed again. Attempts to get Direct TV to correct the problem have been futile. Although one company representative did go to the consumer s home, that individual had no understanding of video description or the SAP channel. Eventually, the customer was informed that the company s software had been changed on November 17, 2008 and that the company could not do anything about re-adding the SAP capability. As holds true for captioning problems, the above example shows that many technicians, programming distributors, and retailers are unable to effectively address new problems with video description, often not even knowing why a given problem is occurring. While it is unclear whether the above problem is related to the digital 3

4 broadcasting transition, it is clear that, along with changes being made in that transition, many additional changes are being made by cable and satellite companies who switch to digital transmissions in their offerings to the public. All of these transitions need to be addressed so that the television access that consumers have come to enjoy is not taken away from them. B. Timing and Functions of DTV CC &VD Task Force It is proposed that the DTV CC & VD Task Force initiate operations as soon as possible and remain in existence for at least two years from its first meeting to ensure that people with communication disabilities are able to access digital television to the same extent that they were able to access analog television. At least once every six (6) months, the task force should prepare a written report to update the Commission on progress in finding solutions to achieve this goal. At a minimum, the task force should meet quarterly; however, it is expected that smaller technical working groups within the task force will be created to resolve specific issues and that such groups will be able to meet or confer as frequently as needed to accomplish their individual missions. It is recommended, in order to maintain full transparency, that the FCC issue a published announcement of its intent to convene the task force, along with a request for membership and a public call for the submission of closed caption and video description problems, the latter to acquire a cross-section of problems across platforms and geographic areas. Membership should include representatives from the broadcast, cable and satellite industries, manufacturers of consumer electronics, manufacturers of equipment used in or connected with the processing and encoding of closed captions and video description, consumer electronic retailers, closed captioning and video description providers, and consumers of closed captions and video description. Once selected, members should be encouraged to bring samples (pictures, videos and actual equipment) to task force meetings in order to tangibly demonstrate and address the problems before them. It should be the goal of the task force to immediately identify the most serious problems confronting the ability to access both closed captioning and video description services, and to identify solutions for these failures as quickly as possible. More specifically, early on, key operations and engineering leaders within the membership should be identified to achieve short-term resolutions of the problems at hand, in coordination with consumers who are experiencing the problems. Among other things, this will require determining how best the various components of consumer television equipment (TV sets, set top boxes, DVRs, VCRs, cables, etc.) can seamlessly integrate and interoperate with each other to provide access to closed captions and video description. As the group moves ahead in determining technical and other solutions, these should be put in writing, with the goal of resolving problems for each step of the video programming distribution chain. Government relations representatives, consumer advocates, and trade associations should also be tasked with contributing to longer-term resolutions, including the accessibility and usability of television equipment, the availability of user manuals that can provide easy-to-understand guidance and solutions for consumers, and the 4

5 effectiveness of customer service personnel to address consumer questions and problems. Throughout the time that the task force is chartered, consumers need to be able to share expectations about their viewing experiences, and to review and provide feedback on proposed solutions to ensure that these solutions effectively meet their needs. One of the most important functions of the task force will be to make its solutions publicly available on an expedited and ongoing basis, through summaries prepared for an on-line information clearinghouse and other measures developed by the FCC. When solutions are identified that address how consumers themselves can best interface with their televisions to obtain access features, these should be written up in plain English, and provided in accessible formats, including ASL videos and Braille. In addition, the FCC should proactively share these solutions, as they are developed, with TV station engineers, cable and satellite companies, industry associations and others, so that they receive the guidance and assistance they need to prevent and correct technical problems related to closed captioning and video description as they arise. Performance measures should also be established, and the task force should have as its goal elimination of a specified percentage of problems within a specified period of time. C. Membership of DTV CC & VD Task Force Below are suggested participants for the task force. Such list is being provided in the event that the FCC decides not to publish a request for members or in the event that it needs guidance in selecting members from applicants who respond to a published request: ABC David Dreispan <David.A.Dreispan@abc.com> Group Director, Program Operations, Broadcast Operations & Engineering AT&T Chris Boyer <Christopher.boyer@att.com> Assistant Vice President, Emerging Services and Technologies CaptionMax Gerald Freda <gerald@captionmax.com> VP, Operations and Engineering CBS Bob Seidel <rpseidel@cbs.com> VP, Engineering and Advanced Technology Comcast Charlie Kennamer <Charlie_Kennamer@cable.comcast.com> VP, Engineering Policy and Industry Affairs DirecTV 5

6 Stacy Fuller VP, Regulatory Affairs [Bob Plummer, their DTV engineering lead has retired] EchoStar John Card Staff Engineer EEG Enterprises Phil McLaughlin President Evertz Microsystems Michael Kirouac Lead Design Engineer - Captioning Products Fox Broadcasting Andrew Setos <andys@foxinc.com> President of Engineering, Fox Entertainment Group HBO Craig Cuttner <Craig.Cuttner@hbo.com> Senior Vice President, Advanced Technology LG Electronics John Taylor <jtaylor@lge.com> Vice President - Public Affairs and Communications Media Access Group at WGBH Larry Goldberg <Larry_Goldberg@wgbh.org> Director Motorola Jeff Newdeck <jeffnewdeck@motorola.com> Product Manager, Home & Networks Mobility NBCU Ron Lynah <ron.lynah@nbcuni.com> VP, Network Operations Center, Media Distribution Services NCI (National Captioning Institute) Drake Smith <drake@ultech.com> Consulting Engineer 6

7 Norpak Bob Fitzgerald VP, Engineering Panasonic Paul Schomburg Senior Manager PBS Stephan Scheel Sr. Director, Technical Operations Samsung Kendra Green Sr. Standards & Compliance Engineer Scientific Atlanta Ajith Nair Principal Engineer SONY Bob Blanchard Regulatory and standards analyst Verizon Jimmy Ho Distinguished Media Technology Specialist VITAC Tim Taylor VP, Engineering & Facility Operations WGBH Mike Foti Chief Engineer CONSUMER GROUPS A representative sampling from the following associations should participate on the task force to ensure that problems are properly identified and solutions effectively meet consumer needs: American Council of the Blind American Foundation for the Blind Association of Late-Deafened Adults Audio Description Associates 7

8 Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology Communication Service for the Deaf Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network Hearing Loss Association of America National Association of the Deaf Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. In addition there are specific consumers who have been monitoring the problems occurring or who have expertise on these issues. The above groups would be happy to provide the names of these individuals after they have been contacted to determine their interest in serving on the task force. OTHERS (names unavailable): - Time-Warner, Cox and RCN cable - Hitachi, other TV manufacturers - More/other cable networks - TV retailers 8