PTA, Others Oppose Nets On Kids Stay

The Children's Media Policy Coalition -- which includes the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, PTA, Children Now, the Benton Foundation and others -- are calling on the FCC to deny the parents of the Big Three networks' motion to delay implementation of the FCC's Kids Digital TV Rules, some of which also apply to analog. The rules, which include counting show promos as ads and preventing shows from including Web links to products pitched by their characters--were released in fall 2004 and are to take effect Jan. 1, 2006. The networks filed a motion Monday with the FCC to delay implementation until after the FCC had considered their outstanding petitions so review the rules. Why not let the FCC rule on those petitions before making the companies abide by them. "I think the industry is not asking for a motion to delay, I think they are trying to overturn these rules," says Patti Miller of Children Now. "We have heard that the industry is going after the entire Children's Television Act (in court). That is very troubling and I hope that is not the case."
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
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* For more info on the Children's Media Policy Coalition see
http://www.childrennow.org/issues/media/media_dtv.html