Google Fiber Asks Shorter Audio Waivers for Some Set-Top Functions

Google Fiber is amending its request for temporary waiver of audio accessibility rules for set-top boxes. In an FCC docket 12-108 petition Monday, it said it needs a shorter duration for two of the four audio accessibility waivers it's seeking. It said it's now no longer moving its set-tops to the Android operating system -- for reasons unrelated to accessibility -- and instead looked at updating its Fiber TV app to make additional features audibly accessible. It said at least two of those functions can be provided by year's end at the latest, while it's still investigating how to make the other two functions audibly accessible. It's seeking waiver of one year from the date of the original petition, filed in December (see 1812200045), for activating video description and adjusting the presentation and display of closed captioning. That's along with waiver of two years from the original petition for display of current configuration options and for activating set-top configuration selections.