NAB, Some Members Diverge Over Kids Rules

NAB, SOME MEMBERS DIVERGE OVER KIDS RULES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
As expected, a number of broadcasters -- Allbritton, Media General, McGraw-Hill, LIN Television, Meredith, and Smith Media -- asked the FCC to exempt public interest digital multicast channels from the requirement that a broadcaster carry three hours of informational or educational programming for every multicast channel. They call it a "critically important revision" that the FCC "not impose additional core programming requirements on digital multicast channels that offer educational, informational, and/or public interest programming." Their argument is that the FCC is just substituting its public interest programming--kids--for theirs, and that the move to preempt their programming for FCC-mandated kids shows is "unnecessary, unwarranted, and imprudent." The groups call the provision a "serious threat to the continued operation of existing multicast channels." By contrast, while NAB in its comments said it was "concerned that the three-hour per full-time multicast requirements may discourage many broadcasters for deploying specialized channels, especially at small stations," it said it does not oppose it "because it affords a modicum of flexibility to broadcasters to repurpose educational and informational children's programming on multicast channels."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6327913?display=Breaking+News

* Ad Council Seeks PSA Kids Rule Exemption
In comments to the FCC on proposed new kids programming DTV rules, The Ad Council has asked the FCC to exempt public-service announcements (PSAs) from limits on the display of commercial Web information in kids shows, saying some stations are refusing to carry PSA's for fear of running afoul of the new rules. It is particularly concerned that PSA's that directed viewers to, say the Girl Scouts Web site, would be impermissible under the rules as currently constituted. That is because the four-part test for permitting such links includes a provision that the Web site linked to "contain no links labeled 'store," which the council points out would exclude the Girl Scouts, Library of Congress, and National Crime Prevention Council.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6327877?display=Breaking+News