Children’s TV Rules Review Underway

On July 12, 2018, the FCC adopted a notice of proposed rulemaking to consider how or whether to modify its children’s television programming rules originally adopted nearly two decades ago after the 1996 Children’s Television Act was adopted. This is the twelfth proceeding launched by the Pai Commission as part of its ongoing effort to modernize its rules and eliminate outdated or unduly burdensome rules. Comment deadlines will be announced soon, but stations can file comments now.

We believe the FCC has enough votes to significantly modify the children’s TV programming requirements, including a reduction of the current 3-hour per week minimum average, elimination of the required program length and other criteria for programs, deletion of programming requirements on TV station digital subchannels, and frequency of reporting. TV station comments are urged.