US DOT Officially Requires Closed Captioning on Airport TVs

Last week, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a ruling that requires closed captioning on all televisions in US airports that receive federal funding and experience at least 10,000 flights annually.

Air travelers are familiar with captioned news programs playing on TV screens in gate areas. This DOT ruling makes it mandatory for those televisions to display closed captions — but the rule extends far beyond that.

All public-facing audio-video displays must include captions, whether they are at the ticket counters, security area, gates, lounges, restaurants, or airport shops.

The ruling dictates that:

This ruling amends the Department of Transportation’s compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires accessibility standards for entities receiving federal funds.

In additional to closed captioning, the ruling requires that airports provide sufficient facilities for service animals.

The ruling, which was in development for nearly 4 years, goes into effect on October 5, 2015. After that date, airport operators will have 30 days to comply.

• Read the full rule: “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance (U.S. Airports)”
• More on how Section 504 affects closed captioning requirements