Closed captioning is the visual display of the audio portion of video programming. Captioning provides access to individuals who are deaf or have hearing loss and is often used in places where it is difficult to hear a TV program, such as restaurants and exercise facilities. FCC rules require captioned programs shown on TV to be captioned when re-shown on the Internet.

Video programming rules

• The Internet closed captioning rules only apply if the video programming was shown on TV in the U.S. with captions.
• "Full-length video programming" is video programming that is shown on TV and is distributed to end users, substantially in its entirety, through the Internet. 
• "Video clips" are excerpts of full-length video programming that are posted online.  The rules require video programming distributors that show programming on TV to post captioned clips of their programming on their own websites or applications ("apps").  At this time, the video clips rules do not apply to third party websites or apps. 
• Consumer-generated media (e.g., home videos) shown on the Internet are not required to be captioned, unless they were shown on TV with captions.
• Movies shown on the Internet are not required to be captioned unless they have been previously shown on TV with captions.

Implementation schedule for captioning internet video programming

The following deadlines apply to video programming that is not in a distributor's Internet online library before it is shown on TV with captions.

Full-length internet video programming

Full-length Internet video programming must be captioned if the programming is shown on TV in the U.S. with captions on or after the following dates:

• September 30, 2012, for prerecorded programming that is not "edited for Internet distribution."  "Edited for Internet distribution" means the TV version has been substantially edited.  Examples of substantial edits are deleting scenes or altering musical scores.  Changing the number or duration of commercials is not considered substantial editing.
• March 30, 2013, for live and near-live programming. 
  • "Live programming" is defined as programming that is shown on TV substantially simultaneously with its performance.
  • "Near-live programming" is defined as programming that is performed and recorded less than 24 hours before it was first shown on TV.
• September 30, 2013, for prerecorded programming that is substantially edited for Internet distribution.

Internet video clips

Internet video clips must be captioned if the associated programming is shown on TV in the U.S. with captions on or after the following dates:

• January 1, 2016, where the video clip contains a single excerpt of a captioned TV program with the same video and audio that was shown on TV ("straight lift" clips).
• January 1, 2017, where a single file contains multiple straight lift video clips ("montages").
• July 1, 2017, for video clips of live and near-live TV programming (such as news or sporting events). 
  • For clips of live programming, up to a 12-hour delay is permitted in posting a captioned clip after the programming has been shown on TV. 
  • For clips of near-live programming, up to an 8-hour delay is permitted in posting a captioned clip after the programming has been shown on TV.

Archival internet video programming

The following deadlines apply to video programming that a distributor already shows on the Internet. Distributors have extra time to add captions to video programming that they already show on the Internet and that is later shown on TV with captions, as follows:

• Within 45 days after the date it is shown on TV with captions on or after March 30, 2014 and before March 30, 2015;
• Within 30 days after the date it is shown on TV with captions on or after March 30, 2015 and before March 30, 2016; and
• Within 15 days after the date it is shown on TV with captions on or after March 30, 2016.

Filing a complaint

If you experience a captioning problem after the implementation dates, you may file a written complaint with either the FCC or the video programming distributor or provider. If you choose to file your written complaint with the video programming distributor or provider, you may be able to find the contact information on the distributor's or provider's website. If you file your complaint with the FCC, the FCC will forward the complaint to the video programming distributor or provider.

Your written complaint must be filed within 60 days of the captioning problem. After receiving a complaint, either directly from you or from the FCC, the video programming distributor or provider will have 30 days to respond to the complaint. If you chose to first file your complaint with the video programming distributor or provider and it does not respond within 30 days, or if a dispute remains, you can still send your complaint to the FCC.

How does the FCC Regulate VoIP?

• 911 Services: Providers of "interconnected" VoIP services – which allow users generally to make calls to and receive calls from the regular telephone network – do have 911 service obligations; however, 911 calls using VoIP are handled differently than 911 calls using your regular telephone service.
• Portability: The FCC requires interconnected VoIP providers and telephone companies to comply with Local Number Portability (LNP) rules. (See guide on Portability).
• Calling Records: The FCC limits interconnected VoIP providers' use of customer proprietary network information such as your telephone calling records, and requires interconnected VoIP providers to protect it from disclosure.
• Universal Service: The FCC requires interconnected VoIP providers to contribute to the Universal Service Fund, which supports communications services in high-cost areas and for income-eligible telephone subscribers.
• Accessibility: Interconnected VoIP providers must contribute to the Telecommunications Relay Services Fund used to support the provision of telecommunications services to persons with speech or hearing disabilities and offer 711 abbreviated dialing for access to relay services. Providers and equipment manufacturers also must ensure their services are available to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if such access is achievable. (See guide about TRS.)

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology for communicating using "Internet protocol" instead of traditional analog systems. Some VoIP services need only a regular phone connection, while others allow you to make telephone calls using an Internet connection instead. Some VoIP services may allow you only to call other people using the same service, but others may allow you to call any telephone number - including local, long distance, wireless and international numbers.

How VoIP works

VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that can travel over the Internet. If you are calling a regular telephone number, the signal is then converted back at the other end. VoIP calls can be made from a computer, a special VoIP phone, a traditional phone with or without an adapter, or using a wireless phone, depending on the type of VoIP service you subscribe to. 

Here is one example of how VoIP service works: