V-Chip and TV Ratings: Helping Parents Supervise Their Children''s Television Viewing

Publication Date: December 2002

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Media, telecommunications, and information

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Abstract:

To assist parents in supervising the television viewing habits of their children, Congress included a provision in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104) that new television sets with screens 13 inches or larger sold in the United States be equipped with a "V-chip" to screen out objectionable programming. As of January 1, 2000, all such TV sets must have a V-chip. Use of the V-chip by parents is optional. In March 1998, the Federal Communications Commission approved a ratings system that had been developed by the television industry to rate each program's content, which enables the V-chip to work. Congress and the FCC have been monitoring implementation of the V-chip. Some are concerned that it is not effective in curbing the amount of TV violence viewed by children and want further legislation. Two bills were introduced in the 107th Congress (S. 341, Hollings; H.R. 1005, Shows) to require a study of the V-chip's effectiveness, and, if it was found not effective in curbing children's viewing of TV violence, it would have created a "safe harbor" time period when violent programming could not be telecast. There was no action on either bill. This report will not be updated.