FCC Reality Check

FCC REALITY CHECK
[SOURCE: Miami Herald 3/2, AUTHOR: Editorial staff]
[Commentary] The Federal Communications Commission had good intentions in levying a $24 million fine against Univision for not complying with a federal rule mandating children's programming on broadcast-television networks. Unfortunately, that rule is outdated, and Congress should drop it. Today, 90 percent of U.S. households get cable or satellite service, which now offer children's educational shows on specialized channels such as Disney and Nickelodeon and, in Spanish, Discovery Kids En Español and Sorpresa. It is a shame that broadcast networks are saddled with such costs when they now compete directly with cable networks. It is refreshing to see the FCC pay attention to a Spanish-language broadcaster. But forcing a network to abide by an outdated rule isn't the answer. Congress and the FCC both should drop the children-programming rule and up date broadcasting requirements to meet the current television-market reality.
http://www.miamiherald.com/454/story/28716.html

* Record FCC fine raises broadcasting questions
[Commentary] Given the questionable content of plenty of other allegedly educational programming, the FCC's decision to target the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the United States -- and in such a large way -- is a bit curious. The next largest broadcast penalty is a paltry $3.6 million proposed indecency fine against CBS for an episode of the crime drama "Without a Trace." FCC programming standards should be the same in any language.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/stories/MYSA030507.01O.te...