********************************************************    
                                                         NOTICE
       ********************************************************
                                                               
                               This document was converted from
                      WordPerfect or Word to ASCII Text format.
                                                               
      Content from the original version of the document such as
headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers
                         will not show up in this text version.
                                                               
All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the
       original document will not show up in this text version.
                                                               
               Features of the original document layout such as
columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins
                     will not be preserved in the text version.
                                                               
                If you need the complete document, download the
    WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available.
                                                               
*****************************************************************
                                                      DA 01-325
                                                               
                                               February 7, 2001
                    MASS MEDIA BUREAU ACTION
COMMENT SOUGHT ON THE WEATHER CHANNEL REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION OF
                  EMERGENCY INFORMATION RULES
On December 20, 2000, The Weather Channel filed a letter with the Commission regarding "Request for
Clarification Regarding the Aural Tone Requirements of the Commission's Video Description Rules, 47
C.F.R.  79.2(b)(1)(iii)."  This rule states that "[e]mergency information that is provided in the video
portion of programming that is not a regularly scheduled newscast, or a newscast that interrupts regular
programming, must be accompanied by an aural tone."  The Commission has explained that, if a broadcast
station or multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) provides emergency information through
a crawl or scroll, it must accompany that information with an aural tone.

The Weather Channel seeks clarification that "it is in compliance with the aural tone requirement in
79.2(b)(1)(iii) of the rules when it provides an aural tone prior to the first time that it provides a particular
crawl or scroll containing emergency information."  The Weather Channel thus seeks clarification that it
need not accompany each otherwise identical crawl or scroll with an aural tone.   In the alternative, The
Weather Channel seeks an exemption from the rules because it asserts that accompanying each crawl or
scroll with an aural tone would constitute an undue burden.

The Weather Channel's filing is available for public inspection in the Federal Communications File Room: 


     Federal Communications Commission
     445 12th Street, SW
     Washington, DC  20554.  

The filing is also available at the FCC Consumer Information Bureau Disability Rights Office website,
http://www.fcc.cib.dro.   

Copies of the filing and other pleadings are also available for purchase from:

     ITS Inc.
     1231 20th Street, NW
     Washington, DC  20036
     www.itsdocs.com
     (202) 837-3800
     (202) 837-3805 (fax)
     (202) 484-8831 (TTY)

This document is available to individuals with disabilities requiring accessible formats (electronic ASCII
text, Braille, large print, and audiocassette) by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 (Voice), (202)
418-7365 (TTY), or by sending an email to access@fcc.gov.

The public may submit comments on The Weather Channel's filing on or before February 27, 2001, and
replies to those comments on or before March 9, 2001.  Comments and replies should include the docket
number MM Docket No. 99-339.

Mass Media Bureau Contact:  Eric J. Bash, (202) 418-1188