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Federal
Government Calls for Regulation of TV Violence |
Posted:
05.02.07
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The Federal Communications Commission has called on Congress
to draft tougher regulations on violent television programming.
The FCC's long-awaited report issued last week drew on three years
of studies linking excessive exposure to violent TV to aggressive
behavior in children.
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Unlike previous attempts to crack down on TV violence that targeted
only broadcasters like NBC, ABC and PBS, the new report calls
on lawmakers to include cable and satellite TV. The report also
suggested that Congress come up with a workable definition for
"excessively violent programming that is harmful to children."
 Currently,
television networks voluntarily decide whether or not to rate
their programming using 1997 federal standards that outline appropriate
audiences -- TV-MA for mature audiences, TV-14 for programs that
should only be viewed by those 14 or older. These ratings usually
appear at the beginning of programs and after some commercial
breaks. If parents choose, they can use these ratings to block
certain shows with their television's built-in V-chip.
The FCC concluded these measures have been largely ineffective
at limiting children's exposure to violent programming. Few parents
are using the V-chip technology and, in some cases, the rating
system has helped kids hone in on racy content.
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The FCC's
recommendations |
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The FCC, which drafted the report at the request of a bipartisan
group of legislators in 2004, suggested a number of ways to reduce
kids' exposure to media violence but stopped short of defining
exactly what it felt constituted "excessively violent."
Broadcasters, the report noted, could make a commitment to airing
violence-free programming during peak watching hours.
Another method of reducing kids' exposure to violent programming,
the FCC report stated, would be to allow cable and satellite subscribers
to choose exactly which stations they want coming into their house.
This "a la carte" method of  subscribing
would let concerned parents decide whether they think a particular
channel or channels are too graphic for their children.
Currently, cable and satellite providers "bundle" channels,
making it difficult for parents to sign up for stations that provide
educational or family programming without also getting stations
that air violent content.
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Supporters
and detractors |
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Even though Congress has not taken any steps to implement FCC's
recommendations, the report has already stirred debate.
 The
Parents Television Council, a nonpartisan organization that works
to reduce the amount to sex, violence and profanity on television,
supported the FCC's push for "a la carte" programming.
"We support the notion that the volume and degree of violence
on broadcast television should be reduced, especially during the
times of day when children comprise a significant portion of the
viewing audience," the PTC's president, Tim Winter, said.
"And we applaud the commission's endorsement for parents,
not the cable industry, to determine which networks we subscribe
to and pay for."
Cable and satellite broadcasters, however, say the FCC's recommendations
would increase fees and limit the variety of programming they
could provide.
Brian Dietz, a spokesman for the National Cable Telecommunications
Association, an industry trade group, told the Washington Post
that "simple-sounding solutions, such as a la carte regulation
of cable TV packages, are misguided and would endanger cable's
high-quality family friendly programming, leaving parents and
children with fewer viewing options."
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What is too
violent? |
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The American Civil Liberties Union, which advocates for freedom
of speech, has expressed concern based on the FCC's enforcement
of "indecency" claims -- such as Janet Jackson's "wardrobe
malfunction" during the 2004 Super Bowl, saying efforts to
define "excessive violence" would likely be too broad
and limit free speech.
Defining in law what is "excessively violent" and harmful
to children is both tricky and controversial. Drawing the line
between violence in a movie such as "Schindler's List,"
which has been re-broadcast on TV, and a torture scene from the
popular series "24" would be a challenge.
Beyond the legal questions, the rapid developments in technology
also pose problems for regulators. With more video online and
viewing options such as TiVo, on-demand, and video on the Web,
people are increasingly watching TV shows both where and when
they want. Given these trends, enforcing violence-free programming
during certain hours of the day would not cover all viewers.
Still, studies showing that violent content on TV has been on
the rise in recent years have persuaded lawmakers to try.
 Democratic
Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, a member of the Commerce
Committee, the panel that oversees the FCC, is expected to introduce
a bill within the next few weeks.
"Violent television content is reaching epidemic proportions,"
he said in a statement. "We've waited a long time for this
report, and the FCC is finally weighing in on one of the most
critical communications issues of our time -- how can we protect
our children from being exposed to excessively violent programming?"
--Compiled
by Noah Buhayar for NewsHour Extra
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I think we've been witnessing violence for years, whether in reality through the media or through video games, and I don't think that's a first-hand effect.
