Violence = Indecency, FCC to Tell Congress

VIOLENCE = INDECENCY, FCC TO TELL CONGRESS
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Kim McAvoy]
According to industry and FCC sources, the agency will soon issue a report concluding a two-year inquiry into TV violence and what to do about it. Apparently the findings are that the FCC should be able to regulate violence just as it does indecency and asks that Congress mandate “other forms of consumer choice” for cable subscribers -— a la carte programming menus, family tiers and channel blocking. The report finds "strong evidence" that TV violence is harmful and a correlation between TV violence and aggressive behavior in children. Despite large First Amendment obstacles, the FCC report contends that Congress has “the ability and authority” to craft a sustainable regulatory regime for TV violence. The report has bipartisan support at the FCC. Republican Chairman Kevin Martin and Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps are said to be working closely in drafting the report. A likely third vote -- all that is necessary at the five-person Commission -- is Republican Deborah Taylor Tate, a vocal proponent of cleaning up the airwaves. It is unclear where Commissioners Robert McDowell and Jonathan Adelstein stand, whether they will want to go as far as their peers in trying to curb TV violence.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/02/14/daily.2/

Also see --

* Report Urges FCC to Limit TV Violence
A new draft report from the Federal Communications Commission suggests the government may be able to limit violence on TV in a way that does not violate the Constitution.
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/02/15/570660-report-urges-fcc-to-limi...

* FCC report suggests violence on TV could be regulated
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070216/fcc16.art.htm

* FCC Report suggests TV Violence Limits
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-violence16feb16,1,222...

* FCC wants to regulate TV violence
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=televisionNews&storyID=2007-02-16T103216Z_01_N16220519_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-FCC-DC.XML\