Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced Wednesday that he is seeking the public’s input on whether controversial gender identity content in children’s programming should be added to issues flagged by the television rating system.
Carr expressed concern that while the current rating system flags language, sex, and violence for parents, it does not flag programming for children that touches on transgender themes or other gender identity topics. The FCC is seeking comment “on whether the industry’s approach provides parents with the types of information and disclosures relevant to them today,” he said. Comments sent to the FCC must be received a month from this week, by May 22, according to the agency.
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“Recently, parents have raised concerns that controversial gender identity issues are being included or promoted in children’s programs without providing any disclosure or transparency to parents,” the FCC notice sent out read.
“Specifically, the industry guidelines that parents rely on are rating shows with transgender and gender non-binary programming as appropriate for children and young children, and doing so without providing this information to parents, thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families,” the notice continued.
Carr is specifically asking for feedback regarding the transparency of the TV Oversight Management Board, which oversees the rating system. The system was triggered by a 1996 law that led to the creation of ratings such as TV-Y, designated for child-friendly programs, and TV-MA, for adult audiences only.
Among the questions the FCC is asking is whether parents are aware that children watching programs rated TV-Y, TV-Y7, and TV-G could contain “the discussion or promotion of gender identity themes”; whether current descriptions of content provides a “sufficient basis for parents to make informed decisions concerning viewer concerning viewing decisions for their family, including when gender identity themes are discussed or displayed”; and whether such programming should be rated differently.
“The industry system allows for the display of specific ratings for programs. Programs that are designed to be appropriate for all children, including very young ones, are rated TV-Y,” the notice reads. “Programs that are designed to be appropriate for children aged seven and above are rated TV-Y7. Programs that are not specifically designed for children, but are nonetheless suitable for all ages, are rated TV-G. Should such programming be rated differently or contain relevant descriptions so that parents can make informed decisions?”
Since taking the helm at the FCC, Carr has held public broadcasters to the fire, including warning that some are on legally shaky ground due to their coverage of the Iran war.
“Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news — have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,” Carr said in March. “The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.”
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The FCC chairman weathered intense scrutiny on his own end last fall when he suggested a popular comedian should face consequences for a controversial joke he made on air.
Critics on both sides of the aisle viewed Carr’s comments about late-night host Jimmy Kimmel as federal attempts to crack down on political satire, which is protected speech under the First Amendment. Carr pushed back, saying the narrative was pushed by Democrats and that he was only “looking at things that are consistent with our public interest rules and regulations.”
