Accessibility

Closed Captioning

Closed captioning allows the hearing impaired to follow the spoken portion of a program by converting it to text at the bottom of the screen.

Most of Iowa PBS's programming is offered with closed captioning, and is available on all Iowa PBS stations.

Statement of Compliance

All programming produced by Iowa PBS which is first broadcast on or after March 16, 2015 satisfies the closed captioning quality standards established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Such programming complies with the FCC’s requirements by either: (i) satisfying the caption quality standards set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(j)(2); (ii) adopting and following the “Video Programmer Best Practices” set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(k)(1); or (iii) being subject to one or more of the captioning exemptions set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(d).

Closed Captioning Inquiries

We will make every effort to respond or otherwise resolve your inquiry within 24 hours or one business day. Before sending a formal written complaint, we recommend you first contact our captioning hotline. We may be able to resolve your problem immediately without the need for a formal complaint. In any event, we will respond to your complaint within 30 days.

Broadcast Captioning Inquiries

Iowa PBS Captioning
PO Box 6450
Johnston, IA 50131
800.532.1290
captioning@iowapbs.org

Digital/Online Captioning Inquiries

Iowa PBS Emerging Media
PO Box 6450
Johnston, IA 50131
515.725.9711
webteam@iowapbs.org

Audio Description

Audio description (AD) is a means of making television more accessible to the visually impaired by providing a spoken description of a program's key visual elements. AD uses stereo technology to transmit a second, separate audio channel.

Several programs broadcast by Iowa PBS, including Masterpiece, NOVA, Independent Lens, Nature and POV include audio description. The service can be received only from Iowa PBS's stereo-equipped transmitters: Channel 11, Des Moines; and Channel 12, Iowa City.