U.S. House Bill Aims to Curb Indecent TV Programs

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times/Reuters

U.S. House Bill Aims to Curb Indecent TV Programs

By REUTERS
Published: June 14, 2007
Filed at 1:42 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday that would protect children from indecent television programs by forcing cable and satellite providers to offer a modified form of la carte programming or make other changes in the way they operate.

The bill was introduced by Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois, and Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska.

Also supporting the legislation is Kevin Martin, chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, a longtime advocate of a la carte programming to give parents more control over what their children watch.

The new legislation would give cable and satellite television operators three options.




Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-indecency-congress.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[leftchick]

1. I am so glad they are working hard on important issues like this!

:sarcasm:

[MissMillie]

9. thank you!

:applause:

[Deep13]

2. Any word on my idea to put all the ads together at the end of the show?

:shrug:

[DBoon]

17. or dedicate a channel for ALL the ads

nt

[superconnected]

20. The ads how why

they make the tv shows in the first place. They're so people will watch the ads.

[Deep13]

26. If the networks are not willing to make concessions...

...I'm sure we can give those broadcast licenses to someone who will.

[underpants]

3. "Communities of caring"

that was the big Bush initiative that was just about to be unveiled when 9/11 happened. They were going to try the "blame Hollywood" angle and establish it as a wedge issue. Please remember that Karl Rove is considered a "genius" for such things.

[saigon68]

15. Rove is a Gangster and a NEOCON Thug

He derives his power from Hate, Avarice and Envy

He personally hates and wishes to exterminate certain types of people from the earth

[Tom Joad]

4. could they get rid of the porn of Pat Robertson??

[Mythsaje]

5. This, in addition to parental blocks AND the V-chip?

Somehow I don't think this will fly, but I've been wrong before.

[Zodiak]

6. Here is the point of this

THE CHILDREN!!!!!!

WE HAVE TO THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

When I was a child, no one gave a shit what I thought or what I needed. No one shielded me from anything.

I grew up fine.

Now we have taken away everything fun for adults for the sake of children (but we have no problem spending all the childrens' money before they earn it)...they should be growing up better.

But they aren't.

Because this "for the CHILDREN!!!" crap is bullshit.

[Reverend_Smitty]

13. ...

I too grew up fine...glad to see that congress is really tackling the pressing issues of the day like pandering to the James Dobson TV gestapo and weeding out steroids in baseball...it's not like we have a war going on or anything...

[Bitwit1234]

7. I know the perfect solution.

BLOCK BUTTON. If the parents are not too stupid, they can always program their TV to block offensive (to them) programming.

[rosesaylavee]

28. Or here's an idea. Turn. It. Off. n/t

[aquart]

8. Are these children orphans?

Are their parents mentally incompetent?

[SemperEadem]

10. what's wrong with their parents using the "off" button

and making them read a freakin' book for once? I dont' need a governmental edict to tell me how to raise my child. I grew up just fine, my daughter has grown up just fine--why is it that present day adults act like this is a nation of 8 yr olds who need babysitting?

[Sapere aude]

11. I like the opt out method so I can opt out of all the fundie religious shit and the shopping channel

and Faux News. Give me my money back!

[Solly Mack]

12. fey

fffffffffffff

[krispos42]

14. But I like my indecent programming!

That James Dobson... oh, baby, makes me think of changing sides!

And don't get me started on O'Reilly! The Faluffa Master really tightens my shorts!

DON'T TAKE AWAY MY FOX NEWS CHANNEL!!!!!!

[KurtNYC]

16. the first "MA" rated programming came after the V chip, the first

X-rated movies came after the MPAA ratings system. So if this Bill were to succeed, which it won't, it would quickly create even more of the programming it claims to be against.

[Tiberius]

18. Before everyone reflexively slams this...

... just think of how cool it would be to DELETE the fundy channels, the home shopping channels, and Fox News from our cable systems entirely. I consider them indecent and want to be protected from even seeing them on my cable system guide!

[endarkenment]

25. This bill ought to be renamed 'the cable company welfare act'.

under the guise of 'protecting the children, THE CHILDREN', we will get rate increases all over the place from this bill. They sure know how to package horse shit up all nice and pretty up there on capital hill.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

19. I could go for la carte programming,

Why should I pay for Fox News, CNN and the bible thumping shit that comes with my Dish Network package? I am greatly offended by all three.

[ScottytheRadical]

21. I agree, the problem is that I don't think most cable operators would choose that

I would have no problem supporting a bill that let consumers choose which individual channels they wanted to pay for and pay for them individually. I don't have cable anymore because I was tired of paying $50 a month for it when the only channels I watched were Comedy Central and Oregon Public Television (which, strangely, my TV doesn't pick up otherwise).

However, since that's only one of the options offered under this bill, I think most cable companies would find it would lose them to much money, and instead find it cheaper to either create "family-friendly" programming packages (which I'm sure WOULD include Pat Robertson), or to completely eliminate any content deemed "indecent" altogether. Uck.

[high density]

22. Like a la carte is going to happen

This bill is a joke. Pandering. Figure out how to use the V-Chip, idiots.

[damntexdem]

23. If it truly aimed to eliminate 'indecent programs,' then ...

it would get rid of Faux News. ;-)

[hyphenate]

24. There is already a deterrent for people

who don't want their kids to see something "naughty" on TV: it's called a fucking on/off switch!

Seriously, enough is enough. There are already v chips in most televisions, cable and satellite companies have the ability to keep kids away from such shows through password protection, and there are at the very least 100 different channels in most basic programming packages. Add to that the fact that most broadcast channels are limited to the amount of nudity, violence and language they can show, and ALL shows have a rating to help parents figure out what their kids should watch.

The amount of censorship on the subject of TV is just plain idiocy. I move to table that resolution!

[Phoonzang]

27. Great....the nanny faction of the Democratic

party strikes again. Always right on top of the really important issues. :eyes:

[Speaker]

29. Yessss!!!!!

Because curbing the viewing of nekkid people is so much more important that curbing the use of dropping flamable chemicals on brown children in foreign lands.