Did you know that closed captions are mandated by law? One of the most important reasons to have closed captions is to make the content accessible to everyone, including deaf and hard of hearing viewers, students, and viewers who have English as a second language. In the early 90s, the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 bill was passed by U.S. congress allowing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to put the rules for the implementation of closed captioning. The Television Decoder Circuitry Act was a big step in enabling equal opportunity for those with hearing impairments. It was passed the same year as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Let’s look at all the major laws and regulations that you have to follow if you are a content producer and broadcaster in the US.