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Background
The V-chip allows parents to block television programming that
they don’t want their children to watch. Most television programs
are now assigned a rating according to a system established by the
broadcasting industry. The rating is encoded with the program so
that, using the remote control, parents can program the V-chip to
block from viewing shows with certain ratings. If you lose your
remote or need help programming the V-chip, contact the
manufacturer of your television for a replacement remote or for
instructions on how to operate the V-chip.
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Rules
As of January 1, 2000, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) required all new
television sets 13 inches or larger to contain the V-chip
technology. You can usually tell whether your television
has a V-chip by looking at the packaging. If you no longer
have the packaging, V-chip equipped televisions will have
the V-chip option displayed on the menu. According to
television manufacturers, the V-chip will add less than
one dollar to the cost of producing a set. If you want a
V-chip but do not want to buy a new television, you can
get a set-top box, which works the same as a built-in
V-chip. Personal computers that include a television tuner
and a monitor of 13 inches or more are also required to
include V-chip technology. |
The Ratings System
In 1996 Congress asked the broadcasting
industry to establish a voluntary ratings system for TV programs.
The industry did so by creating the ratings system known as “TV
Parental Guidelines.”
This system was established by the National
Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable Television
Association, and the Motion Picture Association of America.
Ratings appear in the corner of your
television screen during the first 15 seconds of each program. The
ratings are also included in many magazines and newspapers that
provide TV listings. Ratings are given to all television
programming except news, sports, and unedited movies on premium
cable channels. There are six possible ratings:
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TV-Y (All Children) found only in
children’s shows, means that the show is appropriate for for all
children.
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TV-7 (Directed to Older Children)
found only in children’s shows, means that the show is most
appropriate for children age 7 and up.
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TV-G (General Audience) means that the
show is suitable for all ages but is not necessarily a children’s
show.
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TV-PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
means that parental guidance is suggested and that the show may be
unsuitable for younger children. This rating may also include a
V for violence, S for sexual situations, L for
language, or D for suggestive dialogue.
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TV-14 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
means that the show may be unsuitable for children under 14. V, S,
L, or D may accompany a rating of TV-14.
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TV-MA (Mature Audience Only) means
that the the show is for mature audiences only and may be
unsuitable for children under 17. V, S, L, or D may accompany a
rating of TV-MA.
For more information on these ratings, visit
the FCC’s web site at
www.fcc.gov/vchip/.
The TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board
reviews the application of the ratings guidelines to television
programming. The Monitoring Board has a Chairman and six members
each from the broadcast television industry, the cable industry,
and the program production community.
The Chairman also selects five non-industry
members from the advocacy community, for a total of 24 members.
If you have a complaint about a television
show’s rating, you can contact the Monitoring Board at P.O. Box
14097, Washington, DC 20004, or you can call (202) 879-9364. In
addition, you can visit the Monitoring Board’s Web site at
www.tvguidelines.org.
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For More Information
For more information about the
V-chip, contact the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau in the following ways:
Internet:
www.fcc.gov/cgb
E-mail:
fccinfo@fcc.gov
Consumer Center:
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice
or 1-888-TELL-FCC
(1-888-835-5322) TTY.
Mail:
Federal
Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th
Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.
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Federal Communications Commission
