Commission Seeks Comment on Revised Industry Proposal for Rating Video Programming

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CS Docket No. 97-55; FCC 97-321]

Commission Seeks Comment on Revised Industry Proposal for Rating

Video Programming

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has adopted a public notice requesting comment

on the revised industry proposal for the establishment of a voluntary

video programming rating system. The revised industry proposal changes

some of the descriptors associated with the age-based categories of

programming, and in certain categories, adds symbols that indicate the

type of material included in a particular program. In addition, the

revised proposal states that the icons and associated content symbols

will appear for 15 seconds at the beginning of all rated programming

and that the size of the icons will be increased. According to the

revised proposal, five representatives of the advocacy community will

also be added to the

[[Page 48282]]

Oversight Monitoring Board, which was established under the original

proposal to ensure that television programming ratings are applied

accurately and consistently. The Public Notice requests comment as to

whether the revised industry proposal meets the standards set forth in

section 551(e) of the 1996 Act.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 6, 1997. Submit reply

comments on or before October 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and reply comments to: Office of the

Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20554. In addition, interested parties may send

comments and reply comments on diskette to Rick Chessen, Cable Services

Bureau, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. Informal comments

may be sent to the Office of the Secretary or via electronic mail to:

[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Chessen, Cable Services Bureau,

(202) 418-7200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The main text of this Public Notice is

included below. The full text of this Public Notice is available for

inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC

Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

20554, and may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor,

International Transcription Services, Inc. (202) 857-3800, 1919 M

Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.

1. On January 17, 1997, the National Association of Broadcasters

(``NAB''), the National Cable Television Association (``NCTA'') and the

Motion Picture Association of America (``MPAA'') submitted a joint

proposal to the Commission describing a voluntary system for rating

video programming (the ``industry proposal''). On February 7, 1997, the

Commission issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the industry

proposal. See Public Notice, Commission Seeks Comment on Industry

Proposal for Rating Video Programming, CS Docket No. 97-55, FCC 97-34,

12 FCC Rcd. 3260 (February 7, 1997); Public Notice, Modification of

Industry Proposal for Rating Video Programming, CS Docket No. 97-55, DA

97-518, 12 FCC Rcd. 3135 (March 12, 1997)(noting change in symbol for

the category ``Mature Audience Only'' from ``TV-M'' to ``TV-MA''). The

Commission subsequently received formal and informal comments from

interested parties regarding the industry proposal.

2. On August 1, 1997, NAB, NCTA and MPAA notified the Commission

that certain elements have been added to the video programming ratings

system described in the January 17, 1997 industry proposal (the

``revised industry proposal''). Generally, the revised industry

proposal changes some of the descriptors associated with the age-based

categories of programming and, in certain categories, adds symbols that

indicate the type of material included in a particular program. The

revised industry proposal states that the revised guidelines are

supported by leading family and child advocacy groups, as well as

television broadcasters, cable systems and networks, and television

production companies.

3. Under the revised industry proposal, television programming

would continue to fall into one of six categories, with symbols added

indicating the particular content of each program, as appropriate. For

programs designed solely for children, the general categories are:

TV-Y (All Children--This program is designed to be appropriate for

all children). Whether animated or live-action, the themes and elements

in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience,

including children from ages 2-6. This program is not expected to

frighten younger children.

TV-Y7 (Directed to Older Children--This program is designed for

children age 7 and above). It may be more appropriate for children who

have acquired the developmental skills needed to distinguish between

make-believe and reality. Themes and elements in this program may

include mild fantasy or comedic violence, or may frighten children

under the age of 7. Therefore, parents may wish to consider the

suitability of this program for their very young children. Note: For

those programs where fantasy violence may be more intense or more

combative than other programs in this category, such programs will be

designated TV-Y7-FV.

For programs designed for the entire audience, the general

categories are:

TV-G (General Audience--Most parents would find this program

suitable for all ages). Although this rating does not signify a program

designed specifically for children, most parents may let younger

children watch this program unattended. It contains little or no

violence, no strong language and little or no sexual dialogue or

situations.

TV-PG (Parental Guidance Suggested--This program contains material

that parents may find unsuitable for younger children). Many parents

may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may

call for parental guidance and/or the program contains one or more of

the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S),

infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive dialogue (D).

TV-14 (Parents Strongly Cautioned--This program contains some

material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14

years of age). Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in

monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children

under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program contains one or more

of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S),

strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D).

TV-MA (Mature Audience Only--This program is specifically designed

to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children

under 17). This program contains one or more of the following: graphic

violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude indecent language

(L).

4. The revised industry proposal also states that the icons and

associated content symbols will appear for 15 seconds at the beginning

of all rated programming, and that the size of the icons will be

increased from those shown currently. In addition, the revised industry

proposal states that five representatives of the advocacy community

will be added to the Oversight Monitoring Board. The Oversight

Monitoring Board was established in the original industry proposal to

ensure that the ratings are applied accurately and consistently to

television programming. The ratings information will continue to be

supplied by cable network and television stations to newspapers and

publishers of printed and electronic program guides so that the ratings

can be included in program guides, and local television stations will

retain the right to substitute the rating they deem appropriate for

their audience for ratings assigned by producers and distributors. The

guidelines will be applied to all television programming except for

news, sports and unedited MPAA-rated movies that are shown on premium

cable channels. The latter will continue to carry their original MPAA

ratings and the additional advisories currently used by several premium

services.

5. The above is only a general description of certain aspects of

the revised industry proposal. For a more

[[Page 48283]]

detailed description, interested parties are directed to review a

complete copy of the revised industry proposal. The revised industry

proposal is attached to this Public Notice as an Appendix. Copies may

also be obtained from the Commission's Public Reference Room, Room 239,

1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., or from the Commission's

Internet site (http:\\www.fcc.gov\vchip), or by calling ITS, the

Commission's transcription service, at (202) 857-3800.

6. Under section 551(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the

``1996 Act''), the Commission must determine, in consultation with

appropriate public interest groups and interested individuals from the

private sector, whether: (1) Video programming distributors have

established, within one year of the 1996 Act's enactment, voluntary

rules for rating video programming that contains sexual, violent or

other indecent material about which parents should be informed before

it is displayed to children; (2) such voluntary rules are acceptable to

the Commission; and (3) video programming distributors have agreed

voluntarily to broadcast signals that contain ratings of such

programming. If the Commission determines that the industry proposal

fails to satisfy these criteria, the Commission must establish: (1) On

the basis of recommendations from an advisory committee, guidelines and

recommended procedures for the identification and rating of video

programming that contains violent, sexual or other indecent material

about which parents should be informed before it is displayed to

children; and (2) in consultation with the television industry, rules

requiring the distributors of video programming that has been rated to

transmit such rating to permit parents to block the display of video

programming that they have determined is inappropriate for their

children.

7. Interested parties are invited to comment on whether the revised

industry proposal meets the standards set forth in section 551(e) of

the 1996 Act. In particular, we seek comment on: (1) Whether video

programming distributors have established voluntary rules for rating

video programming that contains sexual, violent or other indecent

material about which parents should be informed before it is displayed

to children; (2) whether such voluntary rules are ``acceptable''; (3)

whether video programming distributors have agreed voluntarily to

broadcast signals that contain such ratings; (4) whether the revised

industry proposal satisfies Congress' concerns in enacting the statute;

and (5) whether the Commission should determine the acceptability of

any alternative ratings systems used by video programming distributors.

We will incorporate the comments filed regarding the original industry

proposal in the record for the revised industry proposal, although we

encourage parties to file new or revised comments to the extent they

are concerned with elements of the industry proposal that have been

modified.

8. To file formal comments in this proceeding, interested parties

must file an original plus four copies of all comments in CS Docket No.

97-55. If an interested party would like each Commissioner to receive a

personal copy of its comments, it must file an original plus nine

copies. Comments are due on October 6, 1997, and reply comments are due

on October 20, 1997. Interested parties should send comments and reply

comments to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications

Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554.

9. Parties are also asked to submit formal comments and reply

comments on diskette. Such diskette submissions would be in addition

to, and not a substitute for, the formal filing requirements addressed

above. Interested parties submitting diskettes should submit them to

Rick Chessen of the Cable Services Bureau, 1919 M Street, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20554. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch

diskette formatted in an IBM compatible form using MS DOS 5.0 and

WordPerfect 5.1 software. The diskette should be submitted in ``read

only'' mode. The diskette should be clearly labeled with the party's

name, the words ``Video Programming Ratings Proposal,'' the docket

number of the Commission proceeding, the type of pleading (comments or

reply comments), the name of the file(s), and the date of submission.

The diskette should be accompanied by a cover letter. The Commission

will post all submissions received on diskette on its Internet site

(http:\\www.fcc.gov\vchip).

10. Interested parties wishing to file informal comments in this

proceeding may send them to the Office of the Secretary at the address

noted above, or may send them via electronic mail to: [email protected]

(this electronic mail address is also accessible through the

Commission's Internet site). The Commission will post electronic mail

submissions in their entirety on its Internet site. All formal and

informal comments will be available for public inspection during

regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room 239, Federal

Communications Commission, 1919 M Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20554.

11. This proceeding will be treated as a ``permit-but-disclose''

proceeding subject to the ``permit-but-disclose'' requirements under

Sec. 1.1206(b) of the rules. 47 CFR 1.1206(b), as revised. Ex parte

presentations are permissible if disclosed in accordance with

Commission rules, except during the Sunshine Agenda period when

presentations, ex parte or otherwise, are generally prohibited. Persons

making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that a memorandum

summarizing a presentation must contain a summary of the substance of

the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed.

More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments

presented is generally required. See 47 CFR 1.1206(b)(2), as revised.

Additional rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set

forth in section 1.1206(b).

12. Accordingly, notice is hereby given of the Commission's

consideration of the revised industry proposal submitted by NAB, NCTA

and MPAA, and comment is sought regarding such proposal.

Action by the Commission, September 8, 1997, by public notice (FCC

97-321), Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness and Chong.

Federal Communications Commission.

Shirley S. Suggs,

Chief, Publications Branch.

Appendix

August 1, 1997.

Mr. William F. Caton, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission,

1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554

Re: CS Docket No. 97-55

Dear Mr. Caton: We are formally notifying the Commission by this

letter of certain elements we are adding to the system of parental

guidelines that the television industry submitted on January 17,

1997. The additions we describe below are supported by television

broadcasters, cable systems and networks, and television production

companies. We are also pleased that the revised guidelines are

supported by leading family and child advocacy groups. These

supplements to the existing system of guidelines will be

implemented, apart from provisions dealing specifically with the

``V-chip,'' by October 1 of this year.

We are attaching a description of the amended system and

statements of the television industry and family and child advocacy

groups concerning the revised voluntary TV Parental Guidelines, as

well as the agreement between the television

[[Page 48284]]

industry and the advocacy community concerning additions to the

Guidelines.1

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\1\ We are also providing a copy of this submission and the

attachments on diskette to the Cable Services Bureau.

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We are changing some of the descriptors associated with the six

age-based categories of television programming and, in certain

categories, adding symbols describing the type of material that is

included in a particular program. The program categories we will use

after October 1 are: The following categories apply to programs

designed solely for children:

TV-Y All Children. This program is designed to be appropriate

for all children. Whether animated or live-action, the themes and

elements in this program are specifically designed for a very young

audience, including children from ages 2-6. This program is not

expected to frighten younger children.

TV-Y7 Directed to Older Children. This program is designed for

children age 7 and above. It may be more appropriate for children

who have acquired the developmental skills needed to distinguish

between make-believe and reality. Themes and elements in this

program may include mild fantasy violence or comedic violence, or

may frighten children under the age of 7. Therefore, parents may

wish to consider the suitability of this program for their very

young children. Note: For those programs where fantasy violence may

be more intense or more combative than other programs in this

category, such programs will be designated TV-Y7-FV.

The following categories apply to programs designed for the

entire audience:

TV-G General Audience. Most parents would find this program

suitable for all ages. Although this rating does not signify a

program designed specifically for children, most parents may let

younger children watch this program unattended. It contains little

or no violence, no strong language and little or no sexual dialogue

or situations.

TV-PG Parental Guidance Suggested. This program contains

material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children. Many

parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme

itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program contains

one or more of the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual

situations (S), infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive

dialogue (D).

TV-14 Parents Strongly Cautioned. This program contains some

material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under

14 years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care

in monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting

children under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program contains

one or more of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual

situations (S), strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive

dialogue (D).

TV-MA Mature Audience Only. This program is specifically

designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for

children under 17. This program contains one or more of the

following: graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or

crude indecent language (L).

These refinements maintain the broad six-category structure of

the system of ratings we previously submitted to the Commission and

add symbols indicating the particular content of each program, as

appropriate. Together, the category and program-specific content

indicators will provide parents with information that will help them

make informed decisions about what their children should watch on

television.

The icons and associated content symbols will appear for 15

seconds at the beginning of all rated programming, and the size of

the icons will be increased from those shown presently.

In addition, five representatives of the advocacy community will

be added to the monitoring board which we have established to ensure

that the Guidelines are applied accurately and consistently to

television programming. This will provide input from representatives

of parents and family and child advocacy groups about the way in

which the Guidelines operate in practice.

Consistent with the operation of the TV Parental Guidelines

since January, cable networks and television stations will supply

ratings information to newspapers and publishers of printed and

electronic program guides so that the ratings can be included in

program guides. Also unchanged is the right of local television

stations to substitute the rating they deem appropriate for their

audience for ratings assigned by producers and distributors. The TV

Parental Guidelines will continue to apply to all television

programming except for news and sports and unedited MPAA-rated

movies that are shown on premium cable channels. The latter will

continue to carry their original MPAA ratings and the additional

advisories currently used by several premium services.

Section 551(e)(1) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L.

No. 104-104, requires the Commission to determine if ``distributors

of video programming have * * * established voluntary rules for

rating video programming that contains sexual, violent, or other

indecent material about which parents should be informed,'' and that

the industry-adopted ratings system is ``acceptable.'' As we pointed

out in submitting the TV Parental Guidelines on January 17 and in

comments submitted on May 8, 1997, the ratings system we adopted

achieved Congress' goals of providing information that would give

parents an effective tool to control their children's television

viewing, a tool whose effectiveness would become even greater when

the ``V-chip'' becomes available.

By adding information to the Guidelines, parents will have

additional information to help them decide which television programs

their children will watch. Parents who wish to prevent their

children from seeing a whole category of programs oriented in theme

or content to older viewers will be able to do so; parents who

instead are interested in controlling their children's access to

particular types of content will also be provided with the

information they need. Each network or television station also will

continue to have the right to provide additional advisories to

parents when they believe their audience will benefit from

particular information about a specific program.

When coupled with the ``V-chip,'' the TV Parental Guidelines

will allow parents flexible options to ensure that their children

see only the programs that they deem suitable for them. The content

symbols added to the ratings categories meet many of the concerns

expressed in comments to the Commission,2 and the

addition of representatives of advocacy groups to the Oversight

Monitoring Board address the concerns of others that decisions about

ratings should reflect input from outside the television

industry.3

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\2\ See, e.g., Comments of the Center for Media Education, CS

Dkt. No. 97-55 (April 8, 1977); Comments of the National Association

for Family and Community Education, CS Dkt. No. 97-55 (April 8,

1977).

\3\ See, e.g., Comments of Morality in Media, CS Dkt. No. 97-55

(April 8, 1977).

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The TV Parental Guidelines are voluntary and broadly supported

by the television industry which has pledged to begin transmitting

ratings information on line 21 of the Vertical Blanking Interval

(VBI) within six months. While the Telecommunications Act

contemplated that a ratings system would be incorporated into the

``V-chip,'' Congress specifically eschewed any requirement that

distributors of programming be required to use that system. The

Commission is only authorized to require transmission of blocking

codes ``with respect to video programming that has been rated.'' 47

U.S.C. Sec. 303(w)(2). The Conference Report emphasized that ``the

conferees do not intend that the Commission require the adoption of

the recommended rating system nor that any particular program be

rated.'' H. Rep. No. 458, 104th Cong., 2d Sess. 195 (1996)(emphasis

added).

Program producers and distributors were thus explicitly left by

Congress with the discretion to determine whether they will rate

their own programming, subject only to the requirement that they

cannot strip ratings information from the VBI. Congress undoubtedly

adopted this approach to avoid the obvious constitutional questions

that would arise if programmers were required to display government-

approved messages about program content. Thus, whether certain

program producers or distributors decide that they will not rate

programs at all (as some did after the TV Parental Guidelines were

adopted last December), or others do not utilize the additional

content symbols, has no impact on the decision as to whether the

ratings system adopted by the industry is ``acceptable'' under

section 551(e)(1).

In order to bring the full benefits of the TV Parental

Guidelines to the American people, we urge the Commission promptly

to conclude that this system is acceptable and to adopt the

technical standards needed for its incorporation into television

receivers.

Please direct any questions concerning this matter to Jill

Luckett at NCTA, Jack Goodman at NAB, and Cynthia Merrifield at

MPAA.

Respectfully submitted,

Jack Valenti,

[[Page 48285]]

President and CEO, Motion Picture Association of America.

Decker Anstrom,

President and CEO, National Cable Television Association.

Eddie Fritts,

President and CEO, National Association of Broadcasters.

Attachments

cc: Chairman and Commissioners

Meredith J. Jones

Roy J. Stewart

Christopher J. Wright

Agreement on Modifications to the TV Parental Guidelines

July 10, 1997.

1. Content Information: The following content information, where

appropriate, will be added to all non-exempt programming to supplement

the existing TV Parental Guidelines: in the TV-Y7 category--FV for

fantasy violence; in the TV-PG, TV-14 and TV-MA categories--V for

violence, S for sexual situations, L for language, and D for dialogue.

2. Descriptions of the Guidelines: Modifications will be made to

the category descriptions as specified in Attachment 1.

3. Monitoring Board: Five non-industry members, drawn from the

advocacy community and selected by the Chairman, will be appointed to

the Monitoring Board as full voting members. Recommendations for

appointment to the Board will be offered by advocacy groups and

Monitoring Board members.

4. V-chip: The industry and advocacy groups will recommend to the

FCC that the MPAA movie rating system and the universal television

rating system be the only systems mandated for inclusion on the V-chip.

5. Icons: Larger icons will appear on-screen for 15 seconds at the

beginning of all rated programming and through use of a display button

thereafter.

6. Assurances: Attachment 2 reflects the agreement reached between

the industry and advocacy groups on treatment of the relevant

proceedings at the FCC and pending and future legislation.

7. Research and Evaluation: Independent, scientific research and

evaluation will be undertaken once the V-chip has been in the

marketplace.

8. Effective Date: Networks will begin to rate programming using

the new universal television rating system by October 1, 1997. The

industry agrees to encode and transmit the rating information in Line

21 of the vertical blanking interval within 180 days of the date of

this agreement.

July 10, 1997.

Attachment #1

The following categories apply to programs designed solely for

children:

TV-Y All Children.This program is designed to be appropriate for

all children. Whether animated or live-action, the themes and elements

in this program are specifically designed for a very young audience,

including children from ages 2-6. This program is not expected to

frighten younger children.

TV-Y7 Directed to Older Children. This program is designed for

children age 7 and above. It may be more appropriate for children who

have acquired the developmental skills needed to distinguish between

make-believe and reality. Themes and elements in this program may

include mild fantasy violence or comedic violence, or may frighten

children under the age of 7. Therefore, parents may wish to consider

the suitability of this program for their very young children. Note:

For those programs where fantasy violence may be more intense or more

combative than other programs in this category, such programs will be

designated TV-Y7-FV.

The following categories apply to programs designed for the entire

audience:

TV-G General Audience. Most parents would find this program

suitable for all ages. Although this rating does not signify a program

designed specifically for children, most parents may let younger

children watch this program unattended. It contains little or no

violence, no strong language and little or no sexual dialogue or

situations.

TV-PG Parental Guidance Suggested. This program contains material

that parents may find unsuitable for younger children. Many parents may

want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call

for parental guidance and/or the program contains one or more of the

following: moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S),

infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive dialogue (D).

TV-14 Parents Strongly Cautioned. This program contains some

material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14

years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in

monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children

under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program contains one or more

of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S),

strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D).

TV-MA Mature Audience Only. This program is specifically designed

to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children

under 17. This program contains one or more of the following: graphic

violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude indecent language

(L).

Attachment #2

July 10, 1997.

The attached modifications of the TV Parental Guideline System have

been developed collaboratively by members of the industry and the

advocacy community. We find this combined age and content based system

to be acceptable and believe that it should be designated as the

mandated system on the V-chip and used to rate all television

programming, except for news and sports, which are exempt, and unedited

movies with an MPAA rating aired on premium cable channels. We urge the

FCC to so rule as expeditiously as possible.

We further believe that the system deserves a fair chance to work

in the marketplace to allow parents an opportunity to understand and

use the system. Accordingly, the undersigned organizations will work

to: educate the public and parents about the V-chip and the TV Parental

Guideline System; encourage publishers of TV periodicals, newspapers

and journals to include the ratings with their program listings; and

evaluate the system. Therefore, we urge governmental leaders to allow

this process to proceed unimpeded by pending or new legislation that

would undermine the intent of this agreement or disrupt the harmony and

good faith of this process.

Motion Picture Association of America

National Association of Broadcasters

National Cable Television Association

Center for Media Education

Children's Defense Fund

Children Now

National Association of Elementary School Principals

National Education Association

National PTA

American Medical Association

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Psychological Association

For Immediate Release

Thursday, July 10, 1997

Contacts: Barbara Dixon/Rich Taylor, MPAA, 202-293-1966

Dennis Wharton/John Earnhardt, NAB, 202-429-5350

Torie Clarke/Scott Broyles, NCTA, 202-775-3629

[[Page 48286]]

Joint Statement of Motion Picture Association of America

National Association of Broadcasters

National Cable Television Association Washington, D.C.

The television industry has concluded a long negotiation with

public advocacy groups and has come to closure on revisions to the TV

PARENTAL GUIDELINES. The following content information, where

appropriate, will be added to all non-exempt programming to supplement

the existing Guidelines: in the TV-Y7 category--FV for fantasy

violence; in the TV-PG, TV-14 and TV-MA categories--V for violence, S

for sexual situations, L for language, and D for dialogue.

Leaders in Congress have said no legislation regarding television

ratings, content and program scheduling should be enacted for several

years, so that parents will have time to understand and deal with V-

chips in television sets, a mechanism which gives them the ability to

block out programs they may find inappropriate for young children.

Additionally, advocacy group leaders have said this process should

proceed unimpeded by pending or new legislation that would undermine

the intent of our joint agreement or disrupt the harmony and good faith

of the process just concluded.

We are grateful to Vice President Gore, to Chairman John McCain, to

Chairman Tom Bliley, Chairman Billy Tauzin, Congressman Ed Markey,

among others, who were helpful throughout this process. We also wish to

thank the parents of Peoria, Illinois who, in a May town hall meeting,

shared with us their thoughts on the subject of television ratings.

As the industry declared on February 29, 1996, in announcing its

plans to design parental guidelines for television, we repeat now:

Parents will be the arbiters of these new TV PARENTAL GUIDELINES, which

will be implemented no later than October 1, 1997. Obviously, until

there is a sufficient number of television sets equipped with V-chips

in American homes, no evaluation can be properly conducted.

[FR Doc. 97-24354 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P