New Mexico may require closed captioning on TVs in public spaces

[Judi Lynn]

Spencer Schacht | KOB
Updated: February 6, 2023 - 7:12 PM
Published: February 6, 2023 - 5:16 PM

SANTA FE, N.M. – A new bill would require many businesses statewide to turn on closed captioning on their TVs.

House Bill 288 is very similar to a city ordinance Rep. Cynthia Borrego passed back when she was an Albuquerque city councilor. But she says the difference here is how many more people this bill will give equal access to.

HB 288 would require any place open to the public to turn on closed captioning for all their TVs, including restaurants, stadiums, stores, banks, gas stations, hospitals, and hotel lobbies.

This bill aims to ensure that everyone in the state – no matter their hearing ability – can have access to any information displayed in public.

“I think what is important is that this provides equal access in all of our public spaces, and that is an important issue because often time people feel like they are disenfranchised, and we need to ensure they have equal access,” said Borrego.

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https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/new-mexico-may-require-closed-captioning-on-tvs-in-public-spaces/



Rep. Cynthia Borrego

[Skittles]

1. fine with me

[riverbendviewgal]

2. Terrific and helpful

As being almost deaf I use close captioning all the time at home. Before I got my hearing aid at 27 yrs old I missed most public announcements. I relied on friends and family.

I remember well going to a high school rally in the school auditorium. I was wondering why noone was talking or cheering after our principal made an announcement. My classmate told me when I asked that president Kennedy was shot.

I love that some movie theatres now have closed captioning devices.

[Wonder Why]

3. About time. I never understood the absolute stupidity of having TVs showing

the news or a sports preview/recap/commentary in bars that were so noisy that even the best of ears could not catch a single word and only lip readers knew what was going on - especially these days where the side videos show a different topic than what is being discussed.

For those of us who absolutely need CC, the only good TV occurs where the idiot sports commentators espouse their drivel, where ads are on, and where Fox News is being shown. They become so much better when you hear nothing. Best, of course, is when they run ads at the bottom while the talking heads are performing. Then one imagines what they are saying about the products being shown below. Their gestures can be very hilarious in that context.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. In my ASL classes they strongly suggested turning on closed captioning on TVs in public places

We never know how many among those watching can't hear - so it was suggested that if we have the opportunity, turn it on or ask that it's turned on.