Parents' Voice in Television Act of 1997 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a toll-free number and a computer network site for the collection of public comments, suggestions, and complaints (comments) concerning: (1) the transmission by broadcast stations or cable systems of programming containing depictions of violence and other patently offensive material; and (2) television ratings guidelines established for program blocking technology. Requires the FCC to: (1) publicize such number and site and the FCC's functions under this Act; (2) publish quarterly a summary of comments received in the Federal Register; (3) transcribe such comments; (4) transmit to each licensee any comments made concerning its station; (5) make such comments available for public inspection; (6) omit from any records transmitted or made available the name and address of any caller requesting confidentiality; and (7) include an analysis of such comments in an annual report to the Congress.
[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 1017 Introduced in House (IH)]
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1017
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal
Communications Commission to establish a toll free telephone number and
a computer network site for the collection of complaints concerning
violence and other patently offensive material on broadcast and cable
television, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 11, 1997
Mr. Kennedy of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr.
Filner, Mr. Dellums, Mr. Gejdenson, and Ms. Jackson-Lee) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal
Communications Commission to establish a toll free telephone number and
a computer network site for the collection of complaints concerning
violence and other patently offensive material on broadcast and cable
television, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Parents' Voice in Television Act of
1997''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The average American child watches 8,000 murders and
100,000 acts of violence on television before finishing
elementary school.
(2) Many of the poorest and potentially most vulnerable
groups in our society are the heaviest viewers of television.
(3) Most of the violence on television is presented during
times when children are likely to be viewing.
(4) The television parental guidelines were devised by the
network industry and will be administered by an oversight
monitoring board comprised only of representatives from the
industry. Parental and viewer input has been limited. In
addition, the broadcast and cable networks and local
broadcasters will assign the rating system to programs, thus
limiting parental and viewer input to focus groups.
(5) Numerous other studies establish a causal connection
between watching violence on television and increasingly
violent behavior of children.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENT.
Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
``SEC. 715. COMPILATION AND PUBLICATION OF COMPLAINTS CONCERNING
VIOLENT PROGRAMMING AND TELEVISION RATING GUIDELINES.
``(a) Establishment of Facility for the Collection of Comments and
Complaints.--The Commission shall, within 6 months after the date of
enactment of this section, establish a toll-free number and a computer
network site for the collection of comments, suggestions, and
complaints from the public concerning--
``(1) the transmission by broadcast stations or cable
systems of programming containing depictions of violence and
other patently offensive material; and
``(2) television ratings guidelines established for
purposes of the blocking technology described in section
303(x).
The Commission shall take such steps as may be necessary to publicize
such telephone number, such computer network site, and the Commission's
functions under this section, including by public service
announcements.
``(b) Publication of Data Concerning Complaints.--The Commission
shall publish in the Federal Register, on a quarterly basis, a summary
of the comments, suggestions, and complaints received pursuant to
subsection (a) during the preceding period. Such summary shall
include--
``(1) a breakdown of the complaints pursuant to subsection
(a)(1) by broadcast or cable network and broadcast station, and
by program name, date, and time;
``(2) an identification, with respect to the 50 programs
for which the highest number of complaints were received, of
the production company, the principal advertisers supporting
network distribution, the broadcast or cable network and
broadcast station, and the program name, date, and time; and
``(3) a statement of observed trends in such complaints as
compared with complaints received during prior periods.
``(c) Availability of Records.--The Commission shall transcribe the
comments, suggestions, and complaints received pursuant to this section
and shall--
``(1) transmit to each licensee any comments, suggestions,
or complaints made with respect to its station; and
``(2) make the transcribed comments, suggestions, and
complaints available for public inspection, including
inspection at the computer network site established under
subsection (a).
The Commission shall omit from any records transmitted or made
available under this subsection the name and address of any caller
requesting confidentiality.
``(d) Report to Congress.--The Commission shall include in each
annual report to Congress under section 4(k) an analysis of the
complaints received pursuant to this section. Such analysis shall
include--
``(1) an evaluation of whether, consistent with its
obligations to serve the public interest and meet the
educational and informational need of children, the
broadcasting industry has effectively responded to the
comments, suggestions, and complaints received pursuant to this
section regarding video programming containing depictions of
violence and other patently offensive material; and
``(2) such recommendations as the Commission considers
appropriate to secure more conscientious fulfillment of those
obligations with regard to such programming.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
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