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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States of America, established by the Communications Act of 1934, is in place in order to regulate interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.[1] Children's programming has not been exempt from FCC regulation and has been subject to multiple rules and regulations, particularly over the last few decades.
Children's Educational Television
[edit]Children's Television Act of 1990
[edit]In 1990 Congress enacted the Children's Television Act (CTA) in order to increase the amount of informational and educational programming available for children on television. [2] The FCC has adopted rules in order to carry out this mandate. Television stations, under FCC rule, must:
- Provide parents and consumers with information about core programs being aired
- Define the type of programs that qualify as core programs
- Air at least three hours per week of core programs [3]
Core Programming
[edit]Core programs are designed to serve the educational and informational needs of children (ages 16 and under). Core programming must be a regularly scheduled weekly program that is at least thirty minutes in length and aired between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. [4]
Commercial Time Limits
[edit]Children 12 years old and younger are more susceptible to the power of television advertisements than adults. Therefore the FCC enforces time limits (10.5 minutes per hour on weekends and 12 minutes per hour on weekends) on commercials for television shows aimed at this audience. [5]
Obtaining Children's Programming Information
[edit]One of the main goals of the FCC's rules is to provide more information about educational programming to parents and other members of the public. The FCC forces the "E/I" (Educational/Informational) icon to be used to identify core educational programs.Television stations must provide the information identifying these programs to publishers of television guides and television listings. These rules also require television stations to file quarterly reports with the FCC (which are to be made available to the public) regarding their educational programming. [6]
Safe Harbor Hours
[edit]The term "safe harbor" refers to the hours during which broadcasters may transmit material deemed indecent for children. This "safe harbor", enforced by the Federal Communications Commission, extends—legally—from 10 PM to 6 AM and was established by the US Supreme Court case FCC v. Pacifica.[7] This "safe harbor" is based on evidence that children 17 years of age and under are less likely to be in the audience during these hours. With respect to violent program content, the research suggests that younger children are most at risk, possibly requiring a different conclusion as to the ages of children to be protected and the appropriate "safe harbor" hours. [Enter ref here]
References
[edit]- ^ "About Us". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ "Children's Educational Television". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ "Children's Educational Television". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ 2
- ^ "Children's Educational Television". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ "Children's Educational Television". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ Tremblay, R. Wilfred (2003). "FCC v. Pacifica Foundation". In Parker, Richard A. (ed.) (ed.). Free Speech on Trial: Communication Perspectives on Landmark Supreme Court Decisions. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press. pp. 218–233. ISBN 081731301X.
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