Embedded Files
Some Say...
Some Say...
- Parents, not the government, should regulate television violence.
- That the Government’s definition of violent programming is inadequate and ambiguous.
- People have different values, and parents are best positioned to impart their values to their children.
Others Say...
Others Say...
- The government’s actions restricting violent media are not censorship but, provide parents with the necessary information to protect their children.
- Media violence is harmful to children but, simply communicating the dangers of media violence is often not enough.
- Requiring that violent programs be labeled and that televisions be equipped with a V-chip that identifies violent programs does not censor the media, but helps parents monitor what their children watch.
Frame the controversy in the form of a question:
Frame the controversy in the form of a question:
Are parents who seek stricter broadcast-indecency rules asking the government to do their job as parents?
I Say...
I Say...
Parents, not the government, should regulate television censorship. The FCC does not provide clear definitions, regarding what is and what isn’t illegal. Also, it is the parents duty to educate and censor children. There are many technological gadgets and apps that assist parents, such as V-Chips, various ratings systems, and set top box parental controls. However, just because some parents do not take advantage of these tools does not mean the government can use parental inactivity to justify regulations.
Some Say...
Some Say...
- More viewers watch TV through cable, so it should be run by the FCC.
- The blame for the increasing amount of broadcast indecency falls on the intense competition between the networks and the cable industry
- Because cable is beating network tv due to racier and more violent content, the FCC should regulate both
- Networks & cable will only compete to outdo each other with increasingly shocking content.
- Increasing amount of indecency can harm America.
Others Say...
Others Say...
- Broadcast Indecency has accelerated due to the combined impact of the advent of cable TV, VCR’s & industry deregulation.
- Broadcast Indecency seems even more rapid because during the 50’s & 60’s, tv insisted on presenting an idealized world view while American culture & values were changing dramatically. No they are attempting to catch up.
- Regulation is unnecessary, cable is popular because it has channels geared towards all age groups.
- Courts will find it unconstitutional
Frame the controversy in the form of a question:
Frame the controversy in the form of a question:
Should the FCC regulate cable television?
I Say...
I Say...
The FCC should not be able to regulate cable because it is something that people pay to view as opposed to the networks being funded by the government. Cable also provides different channels geared towards different age groups. Also, cable allows the user control to block out certain channels with pin codes and parental blocks.
Some Say...
Some Say...
- The FCC's censorship of the airwaves are constantly differing from the original standards and are constitutionally suspect.
- Changes in society, technology and especially the law have weakened the constitutional basis for the FCC’s definition of indecency
- The FCC avoids fines in indecency cases to prevent being challenged in court on First Amendment grounds
Others Say...
Others Say...
- The FCC was simply afraid they would infringe on the First Amendment
- The FCC has been lax on enforcement; opting to take the free-market stance, believing that viewers could turn off the TV if they did not like the content.
- A major responsibility of the FCC is to ensure that those who use the public airwaves adhere to standards of decency and to protect the innocence of young children
Frame the controversy in the form of a question:
Frame the controversy in the form of a question:
Does the FCC have sufficient authority to punish broadcasters for indecency?
I Say...
I Say...
Under Supreme Court majority ruling, the FCC does have the authority to punish broadcasts for indecency. However, each case can be reviewed upon request. Due to the vague rulings of the FCC, each case or party can legitimately request a review regarding constitutional rights. Also, the FCC’s ability to punish broadcasts for whatever they deem indecent is a form of governmental authority misuse and abuse.
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