Broadcast Services; Children's Television
This Report and Order amends the children's television educational and informational programming requirements to strengthen our enforcement of the Children's Television Act of 1990 (``CTA''). First, we adopt requirements designed to provide better information to the public about the shows broadcasters air to fulfill their obligation under the CTA to air educational and informational programming for children. Such information will assist parents to guide their children's television viewing, may ultimately increase the amount of educational programming available in the market, and will help parents and others to work with broadcasters in their community to improve educational programming without government intervention. Second, we adopt a definition of programming ``specifically designed'' to educate or inform children (or ``core'' programming) that provides better guidance to broadcasters concerning their specific obligation under the CTA to air such programming. Third, we adopt a processing guideline that will provide certainty for broadcasters about how to comply with the CTA, counteract market disincentives to air children's educational and informational programming, and facilitate staff processing of the children's educational programming portion of renewal applications. The purpose of these new rules is to improve public access to information about ``core'' programs, provide better clarity to broadcasters about their obligation to air such programs, and facilitate our application processing efforts. This proceeding was initiated by a Notice of Inquiry and a Notice of Proposed Rule Making.