Martin Wants Broadcasters to Start 8-9 P.M. Family Hour
Broadcasters should devote 8-9 p.m. to family-oriented material in a “voluntary” effort against indecent programming, FCC Chmn. Martin told the House Appropriations Commerce Subcommittee Wed. But he told Committee Chmn. Wolf (R-Va.) broadcasters likely would be “hesitant” to adopt his idea due to competition from other media. “You have to ask them specifically,” Martin told Wolf, who pressed him on why broadcasters would be reluctant about the family hour. “I just don’t understand that,” Wolf said.
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Martin made a strong pitch for a la carte, but stopped short of defining how to bring it about. He told lawmakers cable has taken an “important step” with its family tiers, which now reach most of the U.S. “More needs to be done,” Martin said. “We have to see if it continues to evolve.” He said the industry should continue working on ways to give parents more control over content.
“You've made such a powerful case for a la carte -- it will be shocking if Congress does not deal with this issue,” Wolf said. Other lawmakers agreed. Ranking Member Mollohan (D-W.Va.) asked Martin if the FCC could impose an a la carte rule. “Congress would have to require it,” Martin said. The Commission has jurisdiction over retransmission consent proceedings dealing with packaging options, he added. Martin also said the shift to IPTV will give consumers more control over content while introducing competition that could lower prices.
The FCC still is receiving a significant number of complaints about allegedly indecent programming on broadcast and cable, Martin told the committee. The “preferable” option is for consumers to control what comes into their homes, he said, but if that isn’t possible, govt. should “consider whether indecency standards should apply.” Martin told the committee his goal is to make the backlog of complaints more manageable, and some “high-profile” cases have been managed. He’s set a 9-month deadline for resolving newly filed cases.
Questioned about bills that would hike fines levied against broadcasters for indecency violations, Martin said he backs the measure but wants cable and satellite brought into the picture. “We need to address this in context,” he said. On other issues, Martin told the committee a FY 2007 funding request for FCC travel of $235,000 would end industry-paid travel -- an issue the committee raised last year. And Rep. Goode (R-Va.) told Martin not to shift Universal Service Fund contributions to a flat rate system. “I don’t want you to stick anything else on” those phone bills, he said.