FCC Asks Public: Is ‘GI Joe’ Educational? : TV: The 1990 law is said to be so vague that virtually any show can qualify. Regulators seek viewers’ assistance in guiding broadcasters.

Federal regulators want to know whether they should accept cartoon shows like “The Jetsons” and “GI Joe” as educational television programming for children.

Broadcasters don’t seem to know exactly what kind of programming the Children’s Television Act of 1990 requires, the Federal Communications Commission says.

In order to help them, the FCC is seeking public comment, due April 23, on “how we might better guide broadcasters.”

The 1990 law requires broadcasters to demonstrate a commitment to educational programming. It was enacted to get broadcasters’ help in improving children’s reading and math skills and assist their understanding of important events.

However, many have complained that the law is so vague that broadcasters can claim virtually any programming is educational.

The notice of inquiry issued Tuesday by the FCC asks people to comment on how the rules and policies being used by the commission to enforce the law should be changed to “more clearly identify the levels and types of programming necessary in the long term to adequately serve the educational and informational needs of children.”

Activists concerned about the quality of children’s TV programming have complained that broadcasters are making a joke of the law by claiming shows like “The Jetsons” educate kids about the 21st Century.

“There’s no doubt that Congress and the activist groups are very interested in seeing this law enforced,” acting FCC Chairman James Quello was quoted by the New York Times in its Thursday editions. “If I were a broadcaster, to be on the safe side I’d have a show that was specifically meant to be educational.”

Rather than creating shows to fit the law’s requirements, stations too often redefine existing programs as educational, says Kathryn Montgomery of the Center for Media Education, a public advocacy group that surveyed 58 stations in various market sizes late last year to see what programs they were telling the FCC fit the law’s requirements.

Peggy Charren, founder of Action for Children’s Television, called the findings from the 58-station survey “depressing.”

One broadcaster, according to the survey, said the “GI Joe” cartoon show was educational because the heroes “fight against an evil that has the capabilities of mass destruction of society,” showing “social consciousness and responsibility.”

The FCC said it reviewed more than 320 television license renewal applications to see how the broadcasters were conforming to the law.

The commission said that the stations showed an effort to meet the terms of the law but that few new programs were “directed expressly at children’s needs.”

“The commission believes that broadcasters may remain uncertain as to the scope of their programming obligations and that this uncertainty may largely explain the lack of growth in children’s programming,” the FCC said.