Broadcasters are averaging 4 hours of children’s TV programming p...

Broadcasters are averaging 4 hours of children’s TV programming per week, one more than FCC’s 3-hour guideline, FCC Chmn. Kennard said in letter to Capitol Hill Thurs. Letter accompanied FCC reports on children’s TV rules and on DTV public interest standard. On kidvid, Kennard said more still needed to be done, including limiting preemption of children’s programming and publicizing availability of shows. On DTV public interest, report listed 11 possible ways for broadcasters to “fulfill their statutory duty to serve the public interest,” Kennard said. He said principles should “provide useful guidance” for congressional discussions with broadcasters. Principles cited in report include airing local issue-oriented programs, carrying PSAs, “enriching children,” protecting children from harmful programs, “enhancing democracy,” providing disaster and emergency information, protecting consumer privacy, making programming accessible to disabled, using technology to enhance service.