Note to paragraph (a)(1): This paragraph places no restriction on the shipping or sale of television receivers that were manufactured before July 1, 1993.
Note to paragraph (a)(2): This paragraph places no restrictions on the importing, shipping, or sale of television receivers that were manufactured before January 1, 2014.
Note: For more information regarding Text mode, see "Television Captioning for the Deaf: Signal and Display Specifications", Engineering Report No. E-7709-C, Public Broadcasting Service, dated May 1980, and "TeleCaption II Decoder Module Performance Specification", National Captioning Institute, Inc., dated November 1985. These documents are available, respectively, from the Public Broadcasting Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314 and from the National Captioning Institute, Inc., 5203 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.
Character Set Table
Special Characters
These require two bytes for each symbol. Each hex code as shown will be preceded by a 11h for data channel 1 or by a 19h for data channel 2. For example: 19h 37h will place a musical note in data channel 2.
HEX | Example | Alternate | Description |
30 | ® | See note1 | Registered mark symbol |
31 | ° | Degree sign | |
32 | 1/2 | 1/2 | |
33 | ¿ | Inverse query | |
34 | TM | See note1 | Trademark symbol |
35 | ¢ | Cents sign | |
36 | [POUND] | Pounds Sterling sign | |
37 | j | Music note | |
38 | a | A | Lower-case a with grave accent |
39 | Transparent space | ||
3A | e | E | Lower-case e with grave accent |
3B | a | A | Lower-case a with circumflex |
3C | e | E | Lower-case e with circumflex |
3D | i | I | Lower-case i with circumflex |
3E | o | O | Lower-case o with circumflex |
3F | u | U | Lower-case u with circumflex |
1 NOTE: The registered and trademark symbols are used to satisfy certain legal requirements. There are various legal ways in which these symbols may be drawn or displayed. For example, the trademark symbol may be drawn with the "T" next to the "M" or over the "M". It is preferred that the trademark symbol be superscripted, i.e., XYZTM. It is left to each individual manufacturer to interpret these symbols in any way that meets the legal needs of the user.
Standard characters
HEX | Example | Alternate | Description |
20 | Standard space | ||
21 | ! | Exclamation mark | |
22 | " | Quotation mark | |
23 | # | Pounds (number) sign | |
24 | $ | Dollar sign | |
25 | % | Percentage sign | |
26 | & | Ampersand | |
27 | ' | Apostrophe | |
28 | ( | Open parentheses | |
29 | ) | Close parentheses | |
2A | a | A | Lower-case a with acute accent |
2B | + | Plus sign | |
2C | , | Comma | |
2D | - | Minus (hyphen) sign | |
2E | . | Period | |
2F | / | Slash | |
30 | 0 | Zero | |
31 | 1 | One | |
32 | 2 | Two | |
33 | 3 | Three | |
34 | 4 | Four | |
35 | 5 | Five | |
36 | 6 | Six | |
37 | 7 | Seven | |
38 | 8 | Eight | |
39 | 9 | Nine | |
3A | : | Colon | |
3B | ; | Semi-colon | |
3C | [LESS THAN] | Less than sign | |
3D | = | Equal sign | |
3E | [GREATER THAN] | Greater than sign | |
3F | ? | Question mark | |
40 | @ | At sign | |
41 | A | Upper-case A | |
42 | B | Upper-case B | |
43 | C | Upper-case C | |
44 | D | Upper-case D | |
45 | E | Upper-case E | |
46 | F | Upper-case F | |
47 | G | Upper-case G | |
48 | H | Upper-case H | |
49 | I | Upper-case I | |
4A | J | Upper-case J | |
4B | K | Upper-case K | |
4C | L | Upper-case L | |
4D | M | Upper-case M | |
4E | N | Upper-case N | |
4F | O | Upper-case O | |
50 | P | Upper-case P | |
51 | Q | Upper-case Q | |
52 | R | Upper-case R | |
53 | S | Upper-case S | |
54 | T | Upper-case T | |
55 | U | Upper-case U | |
56 | V | Upper-case V | |
57 | W | Upper-case W | |
58 | X | Upper-case X | |
59 | Y | Upper-case Y | |
5A | Z | Upper-case Z | |
5B | [ | Open bracket | |
5C | e | E | Lower-case e with acute accent |
5D | ] | Close bracket | |
5E | i | I | Lower-case i with acute accent |
5F | o | O | Lower-case o with acute accent |
60 | u | U | Lower-case u with acute accent |
61 | a | A | Lower-case a |
62 | b | B | Lower-case b |
63 | c | C | Lower-case c |
64 | d | D | Lower-case d |
65 | e | E | Lower-case e |
66 | f | F | Lower-case f |
67 | g | G | Lower-case g |
68 | h | H | Lower-case h |
69 | i | I | Lower-case i |
6A | j | J | Lower-case j |
6B | k | K | Lower-case k |
6C | l | L | Lower-case l |
6D | m | M | Lower-case m |
6E | n | N | Lower-case n |
6F | o | O | Lower-case o |
70 | p | P | Lower-case p |
71 | q | Q | Lower-case q |
72 | r | R | Lower-case r |
73 | s | S | Lower-case s |
74 | t | T | Lower-case t |
75 | u | U | Lower-case u |
76 | v | V | Lower-case v |
77 | w | W | Lower-case w |
78 | x | X | Lower-case x |
79 | y | Y | Lower-case y |
7A | z | Z | Lower-case z |
7B | c | C | Lower-case c with cedilla |
7C | ÷ | Division sign | |
7D | n | Upper-case N with tilde | |
7E | n | n | Lower-case n with tilde |
7F | [.] | Solid block |
Mid-Row Codes
Data channel 1 | Data channel 2 | Attribute description |
11 20 | 19 20 | White. |
11 21 | 19 21 | White Underline. |
11 22 | 19 22 | Green. |
11 23 | 19 23 | Green Underline. |
11 24 | 19 24 | Blue. |
11 25 | 19 25 | Blue Underline. |
11 26 | 19 26 | Cyan. |
11 27 | 19 27 | Cyan Underline. |
11 28 | 19 28 | Red. |
11 29 | 19 29 | Red Underline. |
11 2A | 19 2A | Yellow. |
11 2B | 19 2B | Yellow Underline. |
11 2C | 19 2C | Magenta. |
11 2D | 19 2D | Magenta Underline. |
11 2E | 19 2E | Italics. |
11 2F | 19 2F | Italics Underline. |
Miscellaneous Control Codes
Data channel 1 | Data channel 2 | Mne- monic | Command description |
14 20 | 1C 20 | RCL | Resume caption loading. |
14 21 | 1C 21 | BS | Backspace. |
14 22 | 1C 22 | AOF | Reserved (formerly Alarm Off). |
14 23 | 1C 23 | AON | Reserved (formerly Alarm On). |
14 24 | 1C 24 | DER | Delete to End of Row. |
14 25 | 1C 25 | RU2 | Roll-Up Captions-2 Rows. |
14 26 | 1C 26 | RU3 | Roll-Up Captions-3 Rows. |
14 27 | 1C 27 | RU4 | Roll-Up Captions-4 Rows. |
14 28 | 1C 28 | FON | Flash On. |
14 29 | 1C 29 | RDC | Resume Direct Captioning. |
14 2A | 1C 2A | TR | Text Restart. |
14 2B | 1C 2B | RTD | Resume Text Display. |
14 2C | 1C 2C | EDM | Erase Displayed Memory. |
14 2D | 1C 2D | CR | Carriage Return. |
14 2E | 1C 2E | ENM | Erase Non-Displayed Memory. |
14 2F | 1C 2F | EOC | End of Caption (Flip Memories). |
17 21 | 1F 21 | TO1 | Tab Offset 1 Column. |
17 22 | 1F 22 | TO2 | Tab Offset 2 Columns. |
17 23 | 1F 23 | TO3 | Tab Offset 3 Columns. |
Preamble Address Codes
Row 1 | Row 2 | Row 3 | Row 4 | Row 5 | Row 6 | Row 7 | Row 8 | Row 9 | Row 10 | Row 11 | Row 12 | Row 13 | Row 14 | Row 15 | |
First byte of code pair: | |||||||||||||||
Data Channel 1 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Data Channel 2 | 19 | 19 | 1A | 1A | 1D | 1D | 1E | 1E | 1F | 1F | 18 | 1B | 1B | 1C | 1C |
Second byte of code pair: | |||||||||||||||
White | 40 | 60 | 40 | 60 | 40 | 60 | 40 | 60 | 40 | 60 | 40 | 40 | 60 | 40 | 60 |
White Underline | 41 | 61 | 41 | 61 | 41 | 61 | 41 | 61 | 41 | 61 | 41 | 41 | 61 | 41 | 61 |
Green | 42 | 62 | 42 | 62 | 42 | 62 | 42 | 62 | 42 | 62 | 42 | 42 | 62 | 42 | 62 |
Green Underline | 43 | 63 | 43 | 63 | 43 | 63 | 43 | 63 | 43 | 63 | 43 | 43 | 63 | 43 | 63 |
Blue | 44 | 64 | 44 | 64 | 44 | 64 | 44 | 64 | 44 | 64 | 44 | 44 | 64 | 44 | 64 |
Blue Underline | 45 | 65 | 45 | 65 | 45 | 65 | 45 | 65 | 45 | 65 | 45 | 45 | 65 | 45 | 65 |
Cyan | 46 | 66 | 46 | 66 | 46 | 66 | 46 | 66 | 46 | 66 | 46 | 46 | 66 | 46 | 66 |
Cyan Underline | 47 | 67 | 47 | 67 | 47 | 67 | 47 | 67 | 47 | 67 | 47 | 47 | 67 | 47 | 67 |
Red | 48 | 68 | 48 | 68 | 48 | 68 | 48 | 68 | 48 | 68 | 48 | 48 | 68 | 48 | 68 |
Red Underline | 49 | 69 | 49 | 69 | 49 | 69 | 49 | 69 | 49 | 69 | 49 | 49 | 69 | 49 | 69 |
Yellow | 4A | 6A | 4A | 6A | 4A | 6A | 4A | 6A | 4A | 6A | 4A | 4A | 6A | 4A | 6A |
Yellow Underline | 4B | 6B | 4B | 6B | 4B | 6B | 4B | 6B | 4B | 6B | 4B | 4B | 68 | 4B | 6B |
Magenta | 4C | 6C | 4C | 6C | 4C | 6C | 4C | 6C | 4C | 6C | 4C | 4C | 6C | 4C | 6C |
Magenta Underline | 4D | 6D | 4D | 6D | 4D | 6D | 4D | 6D | 4D | 6D | 4D | 4D | 6D | 4D | 6D |
White Italics | 4E | 6E | 4E | 6E | 4E | 6E | 4E | 6E | 4E | 6E | 4E | 4E | 6E | 4E | 6E |
White Italics Underline | 4F | 6F | 4F | 6F | 4F | 6F | 4F | 6F | 4F | 6F | 4F | 4F | 6F | 4F | 6F |
Indent 0 | 50 | 70 | 50 | 70 | 50 | 70 | 50 | 70 | 50 | 70 | 50 | 50 | 70 | 50 | 70 |
Indent 0 Underline | 51 | 71 | 51 | 71 | 51 | 71 | 51 | 71 | 51 | 71 | 51 | 51 | 71 | 51 | 71 |
Indent 4 | 52 | 72 | 52 | 72 | 52 | 72 | 52 | 72 | 52 | 72 | 52 | 52 | 72 | 52 | 72 |
Indent 4 Underline | 53 | 73 | 53 | 73 | 53 | 73 | 53 | 73 | 53 | 73 | 53 | 53 | 73 | 53 | 73 |
Indent 8 | 54 | 74 | 54 | 74 | 54 | 74 | 54 | 74 | 54 | 74 | 54 | 54 | 74 | 54 | 74 |
Indent 8 Underline | 55 | 75 | 55 | 75 | 55 | 75 | 55 | 75 | 55 | 75 | 55 | 55 | 75 | 55 | 75 |
Indent 12 | 56 | 76 | 56 | 76 | 56 | 76 | 56 | 76 | 56 | 76 | 56 | 56 | 76 | 56 | 76 |
Indent 12 Underline | 57 | 77 | 57 | 77 | 57 | 77 | 57 | 77 | 57 | 77 | 57 | 57 | 77 | 57 | 77 |
Indent 16 | 58 | 78 | 58 | 78 | 58 | 78 | 58 | 78 | 58 | 78 | 58 | 58 | 78 | 58 | 78 |
Indent 16 Underline | 59 | 79 | 59 | 79 | 59 | 79 | 59 | 79 | 59 | 79 | 59 | 59 | 79 | 59 | 79 |
Indent 20 | 5A | 7A | 5A | 7A | 5A | 7A | 5A | 7A | 5A | 7A | 5A | 5A | 7A | 5A | 7A |
Indent 20 Underline | 5B | 7B | 5B | 7B | 5B | 7B | 5B | 7B | 5B | 7B | 5B | 5B | 7B | 5B | 7B |
Indent 24 | 5C | 7C | 5C | 7C | 5C | 7C | 5C | 7C | 5C | 7C | 5C | 5C | 7C | 5C | 7C |
Indent 24 Underline | 5D | 7D | 5D | 7D | 5D | 7D | 5D | 7D | 5D | 7D | 5D | 5D | 7D | 5D | 7D |
Indent 28 | 5E | 7E | 5E | 7E | 5E | 7E | 5E | 7E | 5E | 7E | 5E | 5E | 7E | 5E | 7E |
Indent 28 Underline | 5F | 7F | 5F | 7F | 5F | 7F | 5F | 7F | 5F | 7F | 5F | 5F | 7F | 5F | 7F |
NOTE: All indent codes (second byte equals 50h-5fh, 70th-7fh) assign white as the color attribute.
The dimensions of the above figure shall be as follows:
Label | Dimensions | Percent of television picture height |
A | Television picture height | 100.0 |
B | Television picture width | 133.33 |
C | Height of safe caption area | 80.0 |
D | Width of safe caption area | 106.67 |
E | Vertical position of safe caption area | 10.0 |
F | Horizontal position of safe caption area | 13.33 |
47 C.F.R. §79.101