On October 26, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a final rule exempting video programmers for public, educational, and governmental access (PEG) channels from the requirement to register with the Commission and certify captioning compliance. The rule takes effect on November 25, 2026, and also relieves PEG programming providers of filing obligations under certain conditions. The full text of the rule is available in the Federal Register.
Press Release: Federal Communications Commission
Published October 26, 2026. Reproduced in full from the Federal Communications Commission.
Closed Captioning of Video Programming
Action: Final rule.
Summary
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) exempts video programmers for public, educational, and governmental access (PEG) channels from the requirement to register with the Commission and to certify captioning compliance if the PEG video programmers provide video programming exclusively to PEG channels that are exempt from closed captioning requirements. Additionally, providers of PEG programming are relieved of filing obligations if the administrators of non-exempt PEG channels certify compliance for programming carried on such channels. The Commission similarly exempts providers of programming carried on nonbroadcast networks for distribution by a cable operator or other multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) from certifying when the nonbroadcast network itself certifies that it is exempt or that all programming comprising the network's linear line-up is either exempt from or compliant with the closed captioning rules.
Key dates
- Takes effect: November 25, 2026
Effective November 25, 2026, except for amendatory instruction 3 (47 CFR 79.1(i)(4) and (m)(6)), which is delayed indefinitely. The Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date.
Full text: Federal Register document 2026-21808
