To implement the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), the FCC established accessibility requirements for televisions, set-top boxes, and similar devices.
Rules, Consumer Guide, and Compliance Guide
- Rules
- CFR Rule: 47 CFR § 79.107 – User interfaces provided by digital apparatus.
- CFR Rule: 47 CFR § 79.108 – Video programming guides and menus provided by navigation devices.
- CFR Rule: 47 CFR § 79.109 – Activating accessibility features.
- CFR Rule: 47 CFR § 79.110 – Complaint procedures for user interfaces, menus and guides, and activating accessibility features on digital apparatus and navigation devices.
- Consumer Guide
- Small Entity Compliance Guides
Filing a Complaint
Complaints about the accessibility of television and set-top box controls, menus, and program guides may be filed online through the FCC’s Consumer Complaint Center. More information about filing complaints is available in the FCC’s consumer guide on Television and Set-Top Box Controls, Menus, and Program Guides.
Orders, Public Notices, Notices and Press Releases
3-26-24 FCC Announces Comment Dates for Joint Closed Captioning Display Settings Proposal (DA 24-302)
Public Notice: Word||PDF
3-19-24 Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Joint Closed Captioning Display Settings Proposal (DA 24-276)
Public Notice: Word||PDF
2-1-23 FCC Announces Comment Due Dates for Closed Captioning Display Settings Proposal (DA 23-97)
Public Notice: Word||PDF
1-24-23 FCC Seeks Comment on Closed Captioning Display Settings Proposal (DA 23-66)
Public Notice: Word||PDF
8-3-22 FCC Grants Peloton’s Withdrawal of Petition for Waiver of Accessible User Interface Rules (DA 22-809)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
1-18-22 FCC Announces Comment Dates on Proposed Rules to Make Closed Captioning Display Settings Readily Accessible (DA 22-53)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
1-10-22 FCC Seeks Comment on Proposed Rules to Make Closed Captioning Display Settings Readily Accessible (DA 22-20)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
12-23-21 FCC Seeks Comment on Peloton’s Petition for Waiver of Accessible User Interface Rules (DA 21-1639)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
5-18-21 FCC Extends Comment Periods for CVAA Accessibility Updates (DA 21-589)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
4-7-21 FCC Seeks Comment on Fulfillment of the CVAA (DA 21-405)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
9-16-19 FCC Grants Google Fiber a Limited Waiver of the Accessible User Interfaces Rules for Certain Video Programming Functions (DA 19-916)
Order: Word || PDF
5-17-19 FCC Seeks Comment on Google Fiber’s Petition for Waiver of User Interfaces Requirements (DA 19-430)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
11-5-18 FCC Reminds Industry About Deadline for Accessible Set-Top Box User Interfaces and Waives Requirements for Certain Small Cable Systems. (DA 18-1132)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
11-2-18 Media Bureau Grants American Cable Association's Petition for Waiver of Accessible User Interfaces Requirements. (DA 18-1130)
Order: Word || PDF
6-25-18 FCC Seeks Comment on American Cable Association’s Petition for Waiver of Accessible User Interface Requirements. (DA 18-659)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
4-30-18 Honda Acura MDX User Interfaces Waiver Order. (DA 18-436)
Order: Word || PDF
9-29-17 Media Bureau Seeks Comment on the Deadline for Mid-Sized and Smaller Video Programming Distributors for User Interface Requirements. (DA 17-946)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
9-24-17 FCC Grants a Waiver of Certain Accessibility Requirements for Fiat Chrysler Vehicles. (DA 17-929)
Order: Word || PDF
6-20-17 Request for Comment on Petition for Waiver of Accessible User Interface Requirements of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. (DA 17-597)
Public Notice: Word ||PDF
3-16-17 FCC Grants a Temporary Waiver of Accessibility Requirements for Honda Vehicles. (DA 17-260)
MO&O: Word || PDF
12-22-16 Request for Comment on Petition for Waiver of Accessible User Interface Requirements of Honda Motor Co. (DA 16-1440)
Public Notice: Word || PDF
12-19-16 Accessibility Requirements for Television and Set-Top Box Controls, Menus, and Program Guides. (MB Docket No. 12-108) (DA 16-1416).
Public Notice: Word || PDF
8-2-16 Media Bureau Reminds Covered Manufacturers and MVPDs of December 20, 2016 Accessible User Interfaces Deadline. (MB Docket No. 12-108) (DA 16-881).
Public Notice: Word || PDF
2-5-16 Notice of Effective Date of Second Accessible User Interfaces Order and Announcement of Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines for Related Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. (MB Docket No. 12-108) (DA 16-134).
Public Notice: Word || PDF
11-20-15 Commission Adopts User Interfaces Accessibility Item. Action by: The Commission. Adopted: 11/18/15 by Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. (MB Docket No. 12-108) (FCC 15-156).
2nd R&O, Order on Recon, 2nd FNPRM: Word || PDF
Commissioner Pai Statement: Word || PDF
2-6-14 Pleading Cycle Established for Oppositions and Replies to the Petition for Reconsideration of the User Interfaces Order. (MB Docket Nos. 12-107 and 12-108) (DA 14-159).
Public Notice announcing the deadline for oppositions and replies: Word || PDF
Public Notice announcing the filing of the Petition for Reconsideration: Word || PDF
12-20-13 Notice of Effective Date of New Accessible User Interfaces Rules and Announcement of Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines for Related Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. (MB Docket Nos. 12-108 and 12-107) (DA 13-2439).
Public Notice: Word || PDF
10-31-13 Accessibility of User Interfaces, and Video Programming Guides and Menus. Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 10/29/13 by R&O/FNPRM. (MB Docket Nos. 12-108 and 12-107) (FCC 13-138).
Erratum: Word || PDF
Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Word || PDF
Acting Chairwoman Clyburn Statement: Word || PDF
Commissioner Rosenworcel Statement: Word || PDF
Commissioner Pai Statement: Word || PDF
6-18-13 Media Bureau Announces Comment and Reply Comment Deadlines for the NPRM Regarding Accessibility of User Interfaces and Video Programming Guides/Menus and Establishes Schedule for Ex Parte Meetings. MB Docket No. 12-108. DA 13-1398.
Dates Set Aside for Ex Parte Meetings with Bureaus: 07/22-24/2013
Public Notice: Word || PDF
5-30-13 Accessibility of User Interfaces, and Video Programming Guides and Menus. FCC seeks comment on implementation of Sections 204 and 205 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). MB Docket No. 12-108. FCC 13-77.
NPRM: Word || PDF
Commissioner Ajit Pai Statement: Word || PDF
4-30-12 Media Bureau and Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau seek comment on second VPAAC report: Video Description and Access to Emergency Information; User Interfaces, and Video Programming Guides and Menus. Extended the deadlines for filing comments and reply comments in these proceedings. Docket Numbers 12-108 and 12-107. DA 12-682.
Order: Word || PDF
4-24-12 Media Bureau and Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau seek comment on second VPAAC report: User Interfaces, and Video Programming Guides and Menus. DA 12-635. Docket No. 12-108.
Public Notice: Word || PDF