Conservative Groups Back Kidvid Reform as Other Advocates Don't Want Deregulation
Growth of “unregulated platforms” has “upended the initial justification” for the kidvid rules, said 19 groups including the American Conservative Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Campaign for Liberty and Digital Liberty, posted in docket 17-105 Wednesday. That makes the rules…
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vulnerable to legal challenge, the groups said. “This is an area ripe for reform and deregulation,” they said. “Reducing the burden of regulation will further this Commission’s stated interest in supporting regulatory parity to avoid the creation of unnecessary market distortion.” Broadcasters' arguments they need more flexibility on kidvid are “without merit,” the Benton Foundation, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and Center for Digital Democracy told aides to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, said a filing posted in docket 18-202 Wednesday. “Offering accessible, educational children’s programming is one of the few public interest obligations the broadcasters are required to meet.” Letting stations show all kidvid content on multicast channels will make it difficult to locate, and kidvid programming is already often pre-empted for live sports, the groups said. “If the rules are loosened even further, the unpredictability of when children’s programming is aired will make it even harder for parents to find.”