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z?d 104:SN00652:@@@D at thomas.loc.gov Page 12 of 16 franchise renewal or franchise transfer. • (Sec. 304) Directs the FCC to adopt regulations to ensure the commercial availability of convertor boxes, interactive equipment, and related equipment used to access multichannel video programming (MVP) from manufacturers, retailers, or other vendors not affiliated with any MVP distributor. Ensures the continued system security of MVP services. Provides FCC waiver authority with respect to provisions adopted under this section. (Sec. 305) Directs the FCC, within 180 days after the enactment of this Act, to complete an inquiry to ascertain the level at which video programming is closed captioned. Provides closed captioning accountability criteria and requires a schedule of deadlines for the provision of such service. Provides exemptions from such requirements in cases of economic burden, inconsistency with current contracts, or undue burden of a significant difficulty or expense (with specified factors). Directs the FCC to: (1) commence an inquiry to examine the use of video descriptions on video programming in order to ensure the accessibility of such programming to persons with visual impairments; and (2) report to the Congress on its findings. Title IV: Regulatory Reform - Directs the FCC to forbear from applying any regulation or provision of the Act to a telecommunications carrier or service if it determines that: (1) enforcement is not necessary to ensure that charges, practices, and classifications are just and reasonable and not discriminatory; (2) enforcement is not necessary for the protection of consumers; and (3) forbearance is consistent with the public interest. Directs the FCC to consider whether such forbearance will promote competitive market conditions. Allows any • carrier to petition for such forbearance, requiring an FCC ruling within one year of such petition. Prohibits State enforcement of a regulation or provision after FCC-granted forbearance. (Sec. 402) Directs the FCC, in every even-numbered year beginning with 1998, to: (1) review all regulations issued under the Act that apply to the operations or activities of a provider of telecommunications services; and (2) determine whether such regulation is no longer necessary in the public interest. Requires the FCC to repeal or modify any regulation so determined. Provides procedures for streamlining such repeals or modifications. (Sec. 403) Eliminates or reduces specified FCC regulations, functions, and authority with respect to: (1) amateur radio examination procedures; (2) the designation of inspection entities; (3) instructional TV fixed service processing; (4) the setting of depreciation rates; (5) the use of independent auditors; (6) the delegation to private laboratories of equipment testing and certification; (7) the uniformity of license modifications; (8)jurisdiction over Government-owned ship radio stations; (9) the operation of domestic ship and aircraft radios without licenses; (10) fixed microwave service licensing; (11) foreign directors; (12) limitations on silent station authorizations; (13) construction permit requirements; (14) inspections of broadcast station equipment and apparatus; and (15) inspections by entities other than the FCC. Title V: Obscenity and Violence - Subtitle A: Obscene, Harassing, and Wrongful • Utilization of Telecommunication Facilities - Communications Decency Act of 1996 - Revises provisions of the Communications Act prohibiting obscene or harassing telephone calls and conversation to apply to obscene or harassing use of a telecommunications facility and http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d104:SNO0652:@@@D 12/11/96