Voluntary Ratings And V-chip Technology - Essay Example

Parents 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 then 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 function 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 voluntary ratings for programming. The system was designed to include ratings for programs with sexual themes, violence and other topics or themes which parents might deem inappropriate for their children. On September 25, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission 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, based on the V-chip, would prevent inappropriate or objectionable material from being broadcast.

The enforcement of the government’s V-chip” directive required increased advertising to consumers on the purposes and the use of the V-chip, and the expansion of V-chip technology to the radio.