FCC Eases Captioning Certifications for Some Public Access Channels
Published Date: 10/26/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting November 25, 2026, video programmers for public, educational, and government (PEG) channels won’t have to register or certify closed captioning if their channels are already exempt. Also, providers on certain nonbroadcast networks can skip certification if the network itself handles it. These changes cut red tape and save time, making captioning rules easier to follow without extra costs for most PEG programmers.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
PEG Programmers: No Duplicate Filings
If you are a video programmer who provides programming exclusively to a public, educational, or governmental (PEG) access channel, you do not have to register with the FCC or file annual captioning certifications when the PEG channel administrator files the channel's contact information and a certification that the entire channel is exempt from, or compliant with, the closed captioning rules. This relief applies where the programmer provides programming exclusively to such a PEG channel and is estimated to affect about 290,000 programmers, each saving about 30 minutes per year.
Nonbroadcast Network Suppliers Exempted from Filings
If you supply or license programming exclusively to a nonbroadcast network that is distributed by a cable operator or other multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD), you do not have to register or file annual captioning certifications if the nonbroadcast network has already registered and certified with the FCC that the network is exempt or that all programming in its linear line-up is compliant or exempt. The rule is intended to avoid duplicate filings by individual program owners when the network itself files.
Net Paperwork Savings Estimated
The FCC estimates that about 290,000 programmers will save about 30 minutes each per year (valued at about $17/hour), producing an annual aggregate saving of about $2.43 million; after accounting for the estimated $14,238 annual cost to about 1,700 channel administrators, the net annual savings are estimated at about $2.41 million.
Channel Administrators Must File Contact and Certification
PEG channel administrators (and nonbroadcast networks) that wish to enable the filing exemption for their programmers must file the required contact information and a certification with the FCC attesting that the channel or network is exempt or that its entire programming line-up is compliant or exempt. The Commission estimates about 1,700 channel administrators would each spend about 30 minutes annually to file, with an aggregate estimated cost of about $14,238 per year.
Timing: Some Filing Relief Delayed
Although the Order is dated for effectiveness on November 25, 2026, the amendments that relieve individual programmers from filing (47 CFR 79.1(i)(4) and (m)(6)) are delayed and will not become effective until the Office of Management and Budget completes review of any required Paperwork Reduction Act information collections; the FCC will publish a Federal Register notice announcing the effective date for those paragraphs. Until the relevant channel or network files, individual programmers remain subject to existing registration and certification requirements.
Captioning Obligations and Quality Remain Unchanged
The rule changes only remove duplicative registration and certification paperwork; they do not change substantive closed captioning obligations. Programming that is non-exempt must still be captioned in accordance with the Commission's quality standards, and exemptions remain unchanged.
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