Radio on Bus Fosters Quiet, but Not Peace

In February, Millford's (CT) 60 school buses were outfitted with radios. Kids love to hear their favorite songs -- but not the commericals. Some parents and school officials do not like the commercials, either, which is why school buses have become a battleground echoing the fight of nearly two decades ago, when Channel One began showing advertisement-laden news programs in classrooms. Milford is one of a growing number of districts that have recently added the radios in hopes of calming children on their daily bus trips, but outrage over the commercials has led some places to reject them. BusRadio, a Massachusetts company that since 2006 has wired buses for sound in 175 school districts is barred from New York City because of a 1990 state regulation, prompted largely by the Channel One dispute, that bans advertising on school property. At least two states, Vermont and Massachusetts, are considering similar restrictions on advertising on school grounds (but not on buses), and South Carolina, which does allow advertising on school property, is considering a ban aimed specifically at school buses. The National Parent Teacher Association has opposed BusRadio, and 40 nonprofit consumer, religious and education groups have signed a letter urging PepsiCo, Verizon, Time Warner and other companies not to advertise on the company’s airwaves, or on Channel One’s.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/nyregion/17bus.html?ref=todayspaper
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