Background
Increasingly, people of all ages are using
wireless phones and devices for communicating, gathering
information, and entertainment – in all types of locations. As new
wireless technologies are introduced, new and expanded ways to get
information and entertainment via wireless devices become
available.
But with the benefit of new wireless
technology comes a potential danger: the growing use of wireless
devices by children affords them the opportunity to access content
that parents or caregivers may not want them to see, and to view
that content away from adult supervision.
Controlling Access to Objectionable Material
Adult and other potentially objectionable
material has become increasingly available to children through
broadcast and subscription television, movies, video and audio
recordings, video games, and the Internet. For television viewing,
since January 1, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
has required new television sets 13 inches or larger to contain a
V-chip, a device that allows parents or other caregivers to block
television programming that they don’t want their children to
watch. Personal computers that include a television tuner and a
monitor of 13 inches or more are also required to include a
V-chip. For more information about this technology, see our
consumer fact sheet at
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/vchip.html.
With the recent enactment of the Child Safe
Viewing Act of 2007, the FCC will begin looking at blocking
technologies for devices in addition to televisions. The Act
directs the FCC to begin a study of:
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the existence and availability of advanced
blocking technologies that are compatible with various
communications devices;
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methods of encouraging the development,
deployment and use of such technology by parents that do not
affect the packaging or pricing of the content; and
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the existence, availability, and use of
parental empowerment tools and initiatives already in the
market.
The new law directs the FCC to seek
information on appropriate blocking technologies not only for TV
programming, but content available over wireless devices and on
the Internet. The FCC must also examine blocking technologies that
can filter language in closed captioning and operate independently
of ratings assigned by the creator of the programming. The FCC
must issue a report to Congress summarizing its findings.
Voluntary Wireless Industry Guidelines
CTIA – The Wireless Association has developed
voluntary guidelines for wireless service providers to use in
classifying content that they provide to subscribers on wireless
devices. Only content that you purchase from your wireless service
provider – either as a single purchase or as part of a package
with a monthly fee – can be classified and blocked, if your
provider chooses to do so. Content that is generated or owned by
subscribers, such as text or instant messages and email (including
chat room and electronic bulletin board messages), and content
accessed through the Internet, cannot be classified. The
guidelines, however, urge wireless service providers to provide
filtering software for content accessed on the Internet.
Wireless carriers choosing to follow these
voluntary guidelines agree to use at least two content ratings,
and will block content to those subscribers who wish to limit
access. The minimum two content ratings are:
(1) Generally Accessible or
available to consumers of all ages; and
(2) Restricted or accessible only to
persons age 18 and older or to persons younger than 18 years
old, when specifically authorized by a parent or guardian. The
Restricted ratings system generally is based on or uses
criteria under existing ratings systems for movies, television,
music, and games.
The FCC encourages industry efforts to
address consumer concerns about access to content inappropriate
for children, but neither endorses nor took part in developing
these guidelines. These guidelines are voluntary, do not have the
force of FCC rules, and the FCC cannot respond to complaints or
take enforcement action for any violations of the guidelines that
are not otherwise prohibited by the FCC’s rules. You can find out
more about the guidelines and the participating wireless carriers
by visiting
www.ctia.org, calling CTIA at (202) 785-0081, or writing to
CTIA, 1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036.
What You Should Know
One of the best ways for parents to protect
children from viewing potentially objectionable content on a
wireless device is to know the types of content and applications
(programs) children can access from their particular device.
Available selections vary depending on the level of sophistication
of the device and the services that you have purchased from your
wireless provider. Providers usually offer a one-time download of
content or use of an application for a set fee, or offer unlimited
downloads of certain content or unlimited uses of certain
applications for a flat fee.
The types of content that can be downloaded
include:
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images, such as background “wallpaper” for
the phone screen;
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games, including some games that are also
available for gaming systems such as Playstation or Xbox;
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music and songs, including ring tones, ring
back tones, and downloads of full songs;
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videos, including certain television shows,
movies, and music videos, as well as video programming specially
made for, and only available on, wireless phones;
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text, photo, and video messages. Most
wireless devices can also be used to exchange messages,
including instant and text messages, as well as photos and
videos. If your service includes Internet access, wireless
devices can also send and receive emails. These services can be
used to request, purchase, and receive content from various
sources, including Web sites. For example, users can send a
5-digit “short code” to request certain information, such as a
sports score or weather forecast that will be sent directly to
their wireless device.
In addition, more sophisticated wireless
devices can be used to browse the Internet. Most smart phones such
as the iPhone and personal digital assistants (PDAs) have larger
screens and full keypads that provide the same capabilities for
browsing as a laptop computer. Many wireless service providers
also offer access to web pages on frequently-used sites such as
Yahoo and ESPN that have been specially designed to be viewed on
simpler handsets with smaller screens and limited keypads.
What You Can Do
Here are some practical steps you can take to
help protect your children from viewing objectionable content on
their wireless devices.
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Know and understand the capabilities of
your children’s wireless devices and what type of content and
applications are available (either included or for an extra fee)
under your service plan.
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Ask your wireless service provider about
filtering software or other parental controls that can be
installed on wireless devices used by children.
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Ask your children how they are using their
wireless devices, and what they are sending and receiving or
downloading (and from where).
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If your children access Internet web sites
from their wireless devices, know what sites they are accessing
and the dangers associated with them, particularly social
networking sites and on-line chat rooms. For general information
about children’s Internet safety, see our consumer fact sheet at
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html.
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Monitor your bill. Content or application
purchases made from a wireless device and not included in your
regular service plan should appear as a separate item on your
bill. The FCC’s Truth-in-Billing rules require telephone
companies to describe the services being billed in clear,
non-misleading, plain language. The company sending you the bill
must identify the service provider associated with each charge.
Each bill must display one or more toll-free numbers that you
can call to ask about any charge on the bill.
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Visit web sites of on-line safety,
education, and help organizations such as
www.wiredkids.org.
For More Information
For information about other telecommunications issues,
visit the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Web site at
www.fcc.gov/cgb, or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center by
e-mailing fccinfo@fcc.gov; calling
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY;
faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.
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