CONGRESS MULLS CHILDREN’S TV BILL

A bill has been introduced in Congress that would require broadcasters to provide a minimum of seven hours per week of educational programming for children, at least five of which must air Monday through Friday.

“The Children’s Television Education Act of 1985” would also require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct an inquiry into the implications of programs created to promote toys or other products popular with children--the so-called “program-length commercials.”

The bill also sets an unusual nine-month deadline for the FCC to complete its inquiry.

Introducing the bill in the House, Rep. Timothy Wirth (D-Colo.), chairman of the House telecommunications, consumer protection and finance subcommittee, said that “this trend is growing so fast that according to one estimate, as many as 20 Saturday morning programs this fall will feature this approach.”

Wirth wants the FCC to determine if such program length commercials affects a “child’s ability to tell the difference between programs and commercial contents, and how the trend will affect the future of children’s programming in general.

“When this type of programming is purchased by TV stations,” Wirth told the House, “an arrangement is typically included which allows the broadcaster to share in the profits generated from the sales of toys and other related products.”

He expressed concern that the financial incentives may override “other factors that should be weighed in a broadcaster’s decision regarding selection of childrens program content” and held the threat of license-renewal denial over broadcasters, should they fail to comply with the bill, if passed.

Earlier unsuccessful legislation, bitterly opposed by broadcasters, had asked for only five hours of programming a week.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), introduced a similar bill in the Senate.

Wirth also introduced an authorization bill calling for funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of $220 million in fiscal year 1988, $246 million in FY89 and $283 million for FY90 .

The bill also authorizes funds for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program of $24 million for each of fiscal years 1986, 1987 and 1988.