Voluntary Ratings And V-chip Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Voluntary Ratings And V-chip Technology - Essay ExampleParents must assume responsibility for what their children are exposed to on the public airwaves, and the government has provided parents with some valuable tools. Nonetheless, it can be argued that these tools have not been properly publicized or explained to parents. The government cannot simply endorse these tools and thus forget about the problem. It must expand publicity of these tools, it must create educational resources which are readily available to parents and the public, and it must maintain an oversight component part to ensure that broadcasters continue to comply with certain minimum standards. Section 551 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was a directive from the U.S. Congress to the broadcasting industry. This directive called on broadcasters to establish willful ratings for programming. The system was designed to include ratings for programs with sexual themes, violence and other topics or themes which pare nts might deem remote for their children. On September 25, 1997, the Federal Communications consignment reviewed a set of standards that were agreed on and proposed by broadcasters. These proposed standards included an advisory before the broadcast to be followed by a basic grading system. For example, a TV/ M rating would be for mature audiences only a TV/14 rating would strongly caution parents to be aware of inappropriate themes and, a TV/PG would suggest parental guidance. In addition to these voluntary rating standards, the government also endorsed the implementation of certain technological tools. These technological tools, found on the V-chip, would prevent inappropriate or objectionable material from being broadcast. The enforcement of the governments V-chip directive required increased advertising to consumers on the purposes and the go for of the V-chip, and the expansion of V-chip technology to the radio.