By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable Online, 6-29-18

Limited-government groups want the FCC to limit the mandates in its enforcement of children’s programming legislation dating from the early 1990s, while a prominent kids TV group sees it slightly differently, while agreeing changes are needed.

The FCC is tentatively proposing to eliminate a number of children’s TV rules, and is seeking comment on changing others, tentatively concluding that educational and informational programming does not have to be at least a half-hour in length and regularly scheduled.

The agency also proposes cutting the frequency of kids TV reports to the FCC from quarterly to annually. That is according to a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) released by the FCC Thursday (June 21) for a July 12 vote.The NPRM seeks comment on whether there still needs to be a three-hour-per-week mandate and whether the hours in the day when programming qualifies as filling the requirement should be expanded.  » Read More