Subtitles and Caption Accessibility and Legal Requirements for Captions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirement for live audio content in synchronized media?
- No captions are required for live content
- Live captions (1.2.4) must be provided for all live audio in synchronized media (Correct answer)
- Text transcripts are sufficient for live content
- Only prerecorded content requires captions under WCAG 2.1 AA
Correct answer: Live captions (1.2.4) must be provided for all live audio in synchronized media
WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.4 (Level AA) requires captions for all live audio content in synchronized media, such as live webinars and live-streamed events.
Question 2: Under the CVAA, which online platforms are required to provide closed captions?
- Only platforms with over 1 million subscribers
- Video providers that show programming that previously aired on US television with captions (Correct answer)
- All websites that post any video content
- Only government-owned streaming platforms
Correct answer: Video providers that show programming that previously aired on US television with captions
The CVAA requires online platforms that distribute programming previously shown on US television with captions to provide captions on the online version of that programming.
Question 3: What is the difference between a 'transcript' and 'synchronized captions' from an accessibility standpoint?
- Transcripts are more accessible than captions for all users
- Synchronized captions appear time-aligned with the video; transcripts are text that may not be synchronized (Correct answer)
- Transcripts are required by law; captions are optional
- There is no meaningful accessibility difference between the two
Correct answer: Synchronized captions appear time-aligned with the video; transcripts are text that may not be synchronized
Synchronized captions appear in real-time alignment with audio, allowing deaf viewers to follow the video; transcripts are separate text documents that may not indicate when in the video each word occurs.
Question 4: Which WCAG criterion requires audio description or a media alternative for prerecorded video content at Level A?
- 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
- 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Correct answer)
- 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)
- 1.4.2 Audio Control
Correct answer: 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative
WCAG Success Criterion 1.2.3 (Level A) requires that an audio description or a full media text alternative be provided for prerecorded synchronized media.
Question 5: What is a 'caption decoder' and why was the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 significant?
- A device to improve video quality; the act improved broadcast resolution standards
- A circuit that decodes and displays closed caption data; the act required all large TVs to include this decoder built-in (Correct answer)
- A translator device for foreign captions; the act mandated multilingual captions
- A streaming device; the act required internet video to include captions
Correct answer: A circuit that decodes and displays closed caption data; the act required all large TVs to include this decoder built-in
A caption decoder is a circuit that reads and displays CEA-608 closed caption data; the 1990 act required all TVs 13 inches or larger to have this decoder built in, making captions universally accessible.
Question 6: Under FCC rules, how quickly must live program captions appear after the audio is spoken?
- Within 30 seconds
- Within 3 seconds for real-time captions; no specific rule for live edited captions (Correct answer)
- Instantly — any delay is a violation
- Within 10 minutes of the program airing
Correct answer: Within 3 seconds for real-time captions; no specific rule for live edited captions
FCC rules require real-time captions to appear within a reasonable time after audio, with general industry practice targeting captions within 3 seconds of speech for live content.
Subtitles and Caption Accessibility and Legal Requirements for Captions 2
What is the WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirement for live audio content in synchronized media?