Indecency And Profanity Policies Coming To Cable/satallite

[Dubh Aingeal]

A bill introduced this week would force cable operators to offer à la carte cable and so-called family-tiers of service. Those opting for à la carte programming would get refunds on their cable bill, but the legislation would also extend broadcast indecency standards to cable and satellite TV for the first time: 'In accordance with the indecency and profanity policies and standards applied by the [FCC] to broadcasters, as such policies and standards are modified from time to time, not transmit any material that is indecent or profane on any channel in the expanded basic tier of such distributor except between 10pm and 6am.' As Ars points out, 'With the parental controls built into every television set, set-top box, and DVR being sold these days, the need for such legislation seems questionable at best. Unlike broadcast television, which is available to anyone with a TV and an antenna, people subscribe to and pay for cable/satellite.

[The Void]

A bill introduced this week would force cable operators to offer à la carte cable and so-called family-tiers of service. Those opting for à la carte programming would get refunds on their cable bill, but the legislation would also extend broadcast indecency standards to cable and satellite TV for the first time: 'In accordance with the indecency and profanity policies and standards applied by the [FCC] to broadcasters, as such policies and standards are modified from time to time, not transmit any material that is indecent or profane on any channel in the expanded basic tier of such distributor except between 10pm and 6am.' As Ars points out, 'With the parental controls built into every television set, set-top box, and DVR being sold these days, the need for such legislation seems questionable at best. Unlike broadcast television, which is available to anyone with a TV and an antenna, people subscribe to and pay for cable/satellite.

If what they mean by "a la carte" is that we can choose say 20-50 channels we want to watch I am all for that. That's what I've wanted for a long time. Personally, I am not conservative, but I think kids are overexposed these days and don't get to have a childhood anymore. Parents are so often so tuned out that the tv is the babysitter, so if they want to hold off showing the 'bad' *laugh* stuff until 10:00 that's fine by me. I would hope this would be with exception to pay channels since well, if you pay for a special channel, there should be no restriction.

Bottom line again, our society should not have to be so policed, but obviously we are children run amuck who cannot handle ourselves. *sarcasm* I wish people could use common sense and keep a better eye on what their kids are doing, but so many parents these days have no idea that their little daughter is being stalked and lured by some sick old guy on the internet. Parents are so clueless...television is the least they have to worry about.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

If there is real demand for this, the will offer it . If we want it , lets ask for it. Not have the government mandate it. This is just a case of congress trying to play nanny and pander to the Christian fundamentalists who are probably the most powerful (but in a very small minority) of the lobby conclaves. Keep your mits off please.

The FCC rules for broadcast media suck, luckily most of it does not apply to cable (Safe Harbor (the after 10pm thing) and "indecency" (different than Obscenity which is not protected by the constitution) and all that garbage does not currently apply to cable.

This is also a power grab to extend their tentacles further than they currently do.

[sass_in_the_pants]

This is a very, very bad idea.

Regarding the family tier concept...this is not new. The FCC has been trying to push that on the cable industry for decades now and the industry has been pushing back for just as long. It's a ridiculous request. Ask twenty different people what belongs in a family tier and you will get twenty different answers. Besides, there are parental controls on every remote. You can block everything except G rated Disney cartoons if you'd like. Why would any parent in their right mind want to give up an easily customized control for one that is more general and quite likely less suitable to their needs?

[Marblez]

Will "Ed, Edd and Eddie" and "Spongebob Squarepants" be included in the family tier? If so, well...I'd rather take my chances with my 7 year old watching HBO.

[know_buddy_kares]

If there is real demand for this, the will offer it . If we want it , lets ask for it. Not have the government mandate it. This is just a case of congress trying to play nanny and pander to the Christian fundamentalists who are probably the most powerful (but in a very small minority) of the lobby conclaves. Keep your mits off please.

The FCC rules for broadcast media suck, luckily most of it does not apply to cable (Safe Harbor (the after 10pm thing) and "indecency" (different than Obscenity which is not protected by the constitution) and all that garbage does not currently apply to cable.

This is also a power grab to extend their tentacles further than they currently do.

I gotta agree, this is what's most likely causing this. The extremely small, yet rich and powerful group of christian fundamentalists who just can't stand the idea that people are *gasp* thinking differently than them!

To me, it's just their "friendly" little reminder that if you're not married and popped out a couple of demon spawn with your spouse already, you aren't good enough to exist in their eyes.