FCC Waives Effectiveness of TV Aural Description Rule

The FCC extended a waiver of the rule that would require TV broadcasters and other providers of video programming such as MVPDs and TV networks to make certain emergency information available on audible crawls. The Audible Crawl Rule was created in 2015, but the FCC has granted five previous waiver requests to delay the rule’s effectiveness because there is currently no effective technical solution available to comply with the rule.

The waiver is now effective until the earlier of May 27, 2026, or the issuance of an order on an underlying NAB petition for rulemaking regarding the rule. Pending that date, or an earlier ruling on the petition, TV broadcasters are not obligated to comply with the Audible Crawl Rule.

For more information about the Audible Crawl Rule or the FCC’s waiver, contact an attorney in our Media Practice Group.