We are here today to announce the
introduction of The Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007, a bipartisan bill
that will give parents a new option for protecting their children from indecent
TV programming, while not limiting anyone's viewing choices.
Many Americans don't like some of the
things they see or hear on TV.
Sixty-eight percent of Americans say there is too much violence on TV,
and sixty-six percent say there is too much sex. But the greatest concern is for our children.
Parents are worried that their children
are bombarded by obscene, indecent, and violent programming. Research has demonstrated some of the
negative impact that TV viewing can have on kids, such as the link between
exposure to violent programming and an increase in a child's aggressive
behavior. With American children between
2 and 17 watching - on average - over 3 hours of television per day, parents
are asking for help. The Family and
Consumer Choice Act is a logical solution.
Under this act, cable, satellite, and
other multichannel providers will be required to choose one of three
family-friendly options.
Option 1, they can apply the same indecency
rules that cover broadcast channels, to the channels included on the expanded
basic tier. While this is not a perfect
solution, it would clean up what is offered in the basic package of programming
and give programmers an incentive to stop producing indecent material for
airing when children are likely to be watching.
Option 2, providers can offer
subscribers a real "family tier" that includes all of the channels
included in the expanded basic tier, minus those that are not
child-appropriate. Though providers talk
about offering a family friendly tier, the option they give often seems
designed to fail. For example, under
most family tier options, a subscriber is not able to get popular sports
channels or some popular news channels.
Under our bill, a family tier would be just that: family-appropriate
channels that cater to all family members.
Option 3, providers can implement an
opt-out a la carte system. With this
choice, families would have the ability to call their provider and say, "I don't
want my MTV." After this request, the
provider would have to do two things:
block that channel from going into that household and lower the monthly
bill accordingly, based on the cost of that channel to the provider.
These three options are not new. They have been talked about for years, but I
believe the momentum is building for change.
I applaud Chairman Martin for making this issue a priority. I am happy that he is able to join us today
and we will hear from him in a few minutes, along with representatives from
some of the wide array of groups supporting this measure.
While there is no doubt that parents
are the first line of defense in protecting their kids, clearly they need more
help. The Family and Consumer Choice Act
provides this help, without limiting anyone's choices, and without imposing a
single, one-size-fits-all mandate on providers.
It is time for Congress to act for America's families.
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