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FCC Issues NOI Regarding Violent TV Programs'
Effects on Children
By Ronald
G. London and Robert
Corn-Revere
[August 2004]
On July 28, the Federal Communications Commission
issued a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) regarding violent programming on
television and its impact on children. The FCC issued the NOI in
response to a March 5, 2004 letter from 39 members of the House
Committee on Energy and Commerce expressing concern about violent
programming on television and asking the FCC to initiate this NOI.
The NOI asks questions and seeks comment on the following issues:
- What is the quantity and frequency of violence
in TV programs?
- Is violent television programming increasing or
decreasing?
- What is the effect of such programming on children?
- What is the quantum and extent of data showing
a correlation and/or causation with respect to behavior?
- How should the FCC define "violent,"
"excessively violent" and/or "gratuitously violent"
programming?
- What is the efficacy of parental guidelines/ratings
and V-Chip or similar technologies?
- What are some possible "safe harbors"
(i.e., limiting "violent" content to certain
hours as with broadcast indecency)?
- What statutory and constitutional issues are relevant
to the foregoing and to the prospect of regulatory intervention?
To view the NOI, visit http://www.dwt.com/pdfs/07-04_TV-ViolenceNOI.pdf.
We look forward to discussing the NOI with you. Comments
on the NOI are due
Sept. 15, 2004, with reply comments due Oct. 15, 2004. Should you
have further questions in connection with this matter, or if you
would like to file comments in this proceeding, please let us know.
For more information, please contact:
This Communications Law Advisory is a publication of the Communications,
Media and Information Technologies Group of Davis Wright Tremaine
LLP. Our purpose in publishing this Advisory is to inform our clients
and friends of recent developments in communications law. It is
not intended, nor should it be used, as a substitute for specific
legal advice as legal counsel may be given only in response to inquiries
regarding particular situations.
Copyright © 2004, Davis Wright Tremaine
LLP.
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