President Signs Child Safe Viewing Act

The President this week (Dec. 2) signed the Child Safe Viewing Act into law, requiring the FCC to explore technologies that will block content across a variety of distribution platforms. Cable and broadcast have traditionally been targeted for blocking technologies, but the new law includes “wired, wireless and Internet platforms” as well as “DVD players, VCRs, cable set-top boxes, satellite receivers and wireless devices.”

The new law doesn’t impose any particular requirements on broadcasters or cable operators. It asks the FCC to evaluate technologies that can filter closed captioning and don’t rely on any predetermined ratings. The FCC must report its findings back to Congress within 270 days.