TELEVISION VIEWERS that are still receiving service by means of an antenna are aware of the change that took place the afternoon of June 7. When analog TV signals changed to digital signals, we bought signal converters in order to continue using an antenna. The converter’s menu provided for closed-captioning when available.

When the closed-captioning was activated June 7, I thought I accidentally activated it with the remote. I attempted deactivation. It didn’t work. I have a second converter, and I replaced the first to no avail. Closed-captioning persisted.

In the beginning the captioning was in large print and intrusive. It would appear at the top of the screen and cover actors faces. Then it was adjusted to appear at the bottom of the screen most of the time. The print size even varied, but for persons not in need of captioning, it is a major distraction.

What necessitated a change to continuous closed-captioning? A www.VITAC.com Internet blog cited, “Thanks to the 21st Century Video Communications and Assembly Act, more and more content are being captioned,...”. The National Association of the Deaf and other organizations are “fighting to close” a loophole against their interests. But what about the interests of persons that are not hearing impaired? The old, simple television menu that allowed for captioning to be turned on or off as need required would be a fair solution.

Further reading of the blog revealed the loophole in the law is “any content that’s posted only online, and not on television, is not required to be captioned. This is a deep concern because more and more video content is being posted solely online.” The blog begins with, “Today is the day of the #caption. This social movement in social media (Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc.).” Are business interests using an organization for impaired persons to further exert more control over the airwaves and the Internet? And what comes next?

With the present-day technology wealth extraction industries seeking to control every aspect of our daily lives, what will be the next fees for services rendered? With senseless, silly programming occupying too much airtime and Internet programming, viewers should be paid to watch much of the programming and commercials. But, there is no end to business interests seeking to extract tribute, and the political enablers that continue to make it possible as the price to remain in office. What new law or laws are in the works governing the Internet and the airwaves profit seeking?