The Federal Communications Commission is kicking off the formal process of re-examining the V-chip and other technologies that could protect kids from potentially indecent content on video—on television and other video devices.
The FCC announced the review last night. Congress last year passed legislation requiring the review.
The FCC said in its “notice of inquiry” Monday night that it would be looking closely at the current technologies and alternative ways that parents can screen content they don’t want their kids watching. The legislation requires that the FCC report to Congress by Aug. 29.
The legislation was introduced by Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. Today the senators praised the FCC’s action.
“This law empowers parents with more tools to choose appropriate programming for their families,” Sen, Pryor said in a statement. “I’m pleased the FCC is taking a fresh look at how market-inspired technology can effectively control the sounds and images our young children are continuously exposed to through the media.”
Sen. Hutchison, ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, said the FCC action “is a critical step toward developing the next generation of parental control tools.”
“As a mother of two young children, I know how important it is to have options to monitor and protect children from inappropriate or harmful material, and I am committed to working with my colleagues and the FCC to spur new technologies,” she said.
The action also drew praise from two consumer groups, Common Sense Media and Parents Television Council.
Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps said the notice gives the FCC an opportunity to look at next-generation technology.
“Graphically violent and indecent content is all too present in our media,” he said. “Parents are the first line of defense against these barrages of violent and indecent images. But parents must be armed with information about programming content and the tools to prevent their children’s exposure to content the parents find objectionable.”
(Editor: Baumann)
FCC to Re-Examine V-Chip, Other TV Tech
Mar 3, 2009 • Post A Comment
I’d like to see this law AMENDED so that it covers not just the Programming, but also the COMMERCIALS that are aired during the program. Time and again I have seen Ad for “Adult Products” such as Viagra and K-Y Jelly, aired at times when CHILDREN ARE WATCHING (Such as Afternoon Sporting Events) or sometimes during Childrens Shows themselves! If Advertisers want to air these kinds of ads Parents should at least be able to “Filter” them out so their Children can watch Programs without being exposed to these products so early in their lives. Ads for “ED” Pills such as Viagra would get the “TV-MA” Rating, while NFL Football would get “TV-PG”. Therefore if a Parent sets their set for “TV-PG” when the Commercial for and “Adult Product” comes on all they would see is “The Blue Screen of Death and hear Silence for the duration of the Ad.