PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 12th STREET, S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 00-1996 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov ******************************************************** 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. ***************************************************************** CABLE SERVICES BUREAU ACTION August 31, 2000 Accessibility of Emergency programming rule requiring omb approval effective As of august 29, 2000 On April 14, 2000, the Commission released an order (FCC 00-136, 15 FCC Rcd 6615 (2000)) adopting a rule, 47 C.F.R.  79.2 (Accessibility of programming providing emergency information), requiring that emergency information that is provided to viewers be made accessible to persons with hearing disabilities. Such information may be made accessible either through closed captioning or by using a method of visual presentation. Emergency information is defined as information, about a current emergency, that is intended to further the protection of life, health, safety, and property, i.e., critical details regarding the emergency and how to respond to the emergency. Because the rule imposed new or modified information collection requirements, it could not become effective until approved by the Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub.L.No. 104-13. OMB approved the rule on August 29, 2000 (OMB No. 3060-0945). The Commission stated that it would publish a document establishing the effective date of the new rule upon OMB approval. See Closed Captioning and Video Description of Video Programming, Implementation of Section 305 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Accessibility of Emergency Information, 65 Fed. Reg. 26757 (May 9, 2000). Accordingly, the Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register establishing August 29, 2000, as the effective date for Section 79.2. Media Contact: Audrey Spivak 202-418-0512, TTY 202-418-2555 Cable Services Bureau Contact: Marcia Glauberman 202-418-7046, TTY 202-418-7172 --FCC--