Children's Programming Could Fuel Free-Speech Case Over Digital TV

[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
A showdown between television networks and children's advocacy groups over a government order requiring three hours of children's programming on all television channels could lead to a precedent-setting First Amendment court case over digital television. In its legal papers, Viacom said the rule expanding children's television requirements to all multicast channels "is not narrowly tailored to achieve an important government interest. ... There is no evidence that the current level of [educational] programming offered on primary channels is inadequate to meet the needs of children." Other broadcasters have said applying the three-hour requirement on all channels could undermine the business case for devoting multicast channels to a single topic of programming -- such as weather forecasts [because,let's face it... there's no kids out there interested in learning about the weather]. If the case goes to trial, it could define how the First Amendment should apply to digital broadcasting. Issues of multicast "must carry," the broadcast of "indecent" material, and media ownership all could hinge on the outcome of such a case.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-CWFN1132091915828.html