Notice2026-08624
FCC's Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Further Empowering Parents to Protect Their Children and Make Informed Choices About the TV Programs Their Children Watch
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Published
May 4, 2026
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
In this document, the Media Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission seeks comments on whether and how the Bureau's suggestions to improve the transparency of the Television Oversight Monitoring Board (TVOMB) and the accuracy of TV ratings have been implemented, whether the composition of the TVOMB is sufficiently balanced, and whether content descriptions provide a sufficient basis for parents to make informed decisions concerning viewing decisions for their family, among other issues.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 85 (Monday, May 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 85 (Monday, May 4, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23990-23992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08624]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[MB Docket No. 19-41; DA 26-392; FR ID 343421]
FCC's Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Further Empowering Parents to
Protect Their Children and Make Informed Choices About the TV Programs
Their Children Watch
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Media Bureau of the Federal
Communications Commission seeks comments on whether and how the
Bureau's suggestions to improve the transparency of the Television
Oversight Monitoring Board (TVOMB) and the accuracy of TV ratings have
been implemented, whether the composition of the TVOMB is sufficiently
balanced, and whether content descriptions provide a sufficient basis
for parents to make informed decisions concerning viewing decisions for
their family, among other issues.
DATES: Comment Date: May 22, 2026. Reply Comment Date: June 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, reply comments and ex parte
communications, identified by MB Docket No. 19-41, electronically or on
paper. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific information and
addresses for electronic or paper filings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Murphy, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#57193639342e791a2225273f2e1731343479303821"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a547b74796334576f686a72635a7c7979347d756c">[email protected]</span></a>,
Media Bureau, (202) 418-1043.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Media Bureau's
Public Notice entitled FCC's Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Further
Empowering Parents to Protect their Children and Make Informed Choices
about the TV Programs their Children Watch in MB Docket No. 19-41, DA
26-392, that was released April 22, 2026. The full text of this
document is available for public inspection online at <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-392A1.pdf">https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-392A1.pdf</a> and via the search
function on the Commission's Electronic Document Management System
(EDOCS) web page at <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/edocs">https://www.fcc.gov/edocs</a>. Alternative formats are
available for people with disabilities (Braille, large print,
electronic files, audio format, etc.) and reasonable accommodations
(accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.)
may be requested by sending an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9cfaffffa9aca8dcfaffffb2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e181d1d4b4e4a3e181d1d50191108">[email protected]</span></a> or call the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice).
Ex Parte Rules--Permit-But-Disclose. This proceeding shall be
treated as a ``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the
Commission's ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must
file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any
oral presentation within two business days after the presentation
(unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period
applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that
memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons
attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex
parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and
arguments made during the presentation.
If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the
presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter's
written comments, memoranda, or other filings in the proceeding, the
presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her
prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant
page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be
found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown
or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be
written ex parte presentations and must be filed
[[Page 23991]]
consistent with rule 1.1206(b). Written ex parte presentations and
memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments
thereto, must, when feasible, be filed through the electronic comment
filing system in the docket established for this proceeding, and must
be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable
.pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves
with the Commission's ex parte rules.
Filing Requirements--Comments and Replies. Interested parties may
file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on
the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using the
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
<bullet> Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs">https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs</a>.
<bullet> Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by
hand or messenger delivery, by commercial courier, or by the U.S.
Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission.
[cir] Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the
Commission's Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by
the FCC's mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis
Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with
rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of
before entering the building.
[cir] Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S.
Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis
Junction, MD 20701.
[cir] Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail,
Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street
NE, Washington, DC 20554.
Synopsis
Over the years, Congress and the FCC have acted to empower parents
to determine the type of television programming that is appropriate for
their children. Indeed, in 1996, Congress found that television
programming has a ``uniquely pervasive presence in the lives of
American children'' and ``influences children's perceptions of the
values and behavior that are common and acceptable in society.''
Congress then determined that parents should be provided with timely
information about the nature of upcoming video programming and have the
ability to block violent, sexual, or other programming that parents
believe is harmful to their children.
In passing this legislation, Congress provided the relevant
television and video programming industries with an option. They could
establish their own voluntary system for rating video programming or
the Commission could establish a ratings system itself. Industry
representatives chose to set up their own voluntary system, and the
Commission in 1998 found that industry's approach met the relevant
statutory criteria. As a result, industry established the TV Oversight
Management Board (TVOMB), and developed the TV Parental Guidelines age
ratings system that prevails today. The voluntary TV Parental
Guidelines overseen by the TVOMB, if properly implemented, can be
useful to ensure parents are adequately informed about video
programming on television that their children may be exposed to.
The industry's 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. Programs that are
designed to be appropriate for children age 7 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. The industry's system
also includes ratings for TV-PG, TV-14, and TV-MA. The TV Parental
Guidelines also allow content descriptors to be included with the
rating, including descriptors to let parents know that programs have
sexually suggested dialog (D), fantasy violence (FV), coarse or crude
language (L), sexual situations (S), and/or violence (V). The 1996 law
also required TV manufacturers to develop technology that allows
parents to block material rated as violent, sexual, or otherwise
flagged by the ratings system.
Today, both the traditional broadcast TV sector, multichannel video
programming distribution services (MVPDs) (i.e., cable and satellite),
and streaming platforms use the voluntary ratings system. In recent
years, however, significant concerns have been raised about the ratings
system. For instance, commenters have raised concerns with the FCC
about the accuracy of the ratings, the appropriateness of the ratings,
and a shift or ratings creep in which mature, adult, or inappropriate
content is being rated as appropriate for young children. The FCC wants
to ensure that the ratings system continues to serve the purpose that
Congress had in mind, empowering parents to make informed decisions for
their children.
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.
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. Consistent with Congress's
vision for the ratings system, we seek comment on whether the
industry's approach is continuing to provide the information that is
relevant to parents today.
By passing the relevant legislation in 1996, Congress acted to
protect the right of parents to decide when and how to discuss mature
topics with their children, and to know if and when their children are
being exposed to these topics in their TV viewing. Accordingly, we seek
comment here on any changes that can or should be made to the current
ratings system to ensure that it is responsive to the issues that
parents confront today. This includes any changes that may make sense
for the TVOMB to ensure that it is representative of a range of family
values. We also ask how ratings can be applied consistently across
broadcast, MVPDs, and streaming platforms.
Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019, Congress asked
the Commission to report on the accuracy of the voluntary rating system
and on the ability of the TVOMB to oversee the ratings system and
address public concerns. Following public notice and comment, the Media
Bureau submitted a report (2019 Report) to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House and Senate.
Accessibility and Transparency of TVOMB. In the 2019 Report, the
Bureau made the following suggestions for Board and industry
consideration related to increasing accessibility and transparency to
the public and increasing awareness of the Board's role:
<bullet> TVOMB should increase efforts to promote public awareness
of TVOMB and its role in overseeing the rating system. As part of this
suggestion, the Bureau urged TVOMB and industry to increase outreach
efforts concerning the existence of the rating system and to consider
additional ways to publicize the ability of the public to file
complaints with TVOMB and provide instructions on how to file
complaints.
<bullet> TVOMB should consider ways to inform the public of the
number of complaints it receives, the nature of the complaints, the
program and network or
[[Page 23992]]
producer involved, and any action taken by TVOMB or the industry in
response to the complaints. The Bureau noted that the Board could
consider issuing an annual report on the complaints it has received,
how they were adjudicated, and whether they led to the rating of a
program being changed for future airings.
<bullet> TVOMB should hold at least one public meeting annually to
seek direct public input.
Accuracy of TV Ratings System. The Bureau also made the following
suggestions with regard to the accuracy of the ratings being applied
pursuant to the TV Parental Guidelines:
<bullet> TVOMB should consider random audits or spot checks to
analyze the accuracy and consistency of the ratings in addition to the
survey data it already collects.
<bullet> TVOMB should use this combined data to determine if any
changes are needed to the ratings system to ensure they are as helpful
as possible to viewers.
The Media Bureau seeks comment on whether and how the Bureau's
suggestions, both regarding increased transparency of the TVOMB and
accuracy of TV ratings, have been implemented. How does the TVOMB
engage with the public and are the steps taken sufficient? Is the
composition of the board sufficiently balanced to represent a broad
range of stakeholders outside of the entertainment industry? What more
could the board do to include family-oriented perspectives, which are
not well represented in the media industry, in its ratings process?
Should additional faith-based organizations be represented on the
TVOMB? Does the current complaint process provide for meaningful public
participation?
Is the general public aware of the ratings system and how to
provide feedback to the TVOMB? Is the general public aware that the V-
chip can be used with the ratings system to block unwanted video
programming from reaching children? Do descriptions of the content
provide a sufficient basis for parents to make informed decisions
concerning viewing decisions for their family, including when gender
identity themes are discussed or displayed?
Are parents aware that children watching programs rated TV-Y, TV-
Y7, and TV-G may contain the discussion or promotion of gender identity
themes? Should such programming be rated differently or contain
relevant descriptions so that parents can make informed decisions?
Is there disparity in ratings among different viewing platforms;
i.e., is the same program consistently rated when it airs on
broadcasting, MVPDs, and streaming platforms? Are streaming platforms
more broadly interpreting what is allowable in categories intended for
audiences under TV-Y14? Is objectionable content rated consistently
across various programmers? For example, do different networks rate
explicit language, suggestive language, and violent programming
similarly, or are some networks prone to provide a lesser rating than
others?
We seek comment on whether outreach efforts have been successful in
providing parents with the information necessary to use the guidelines
effectively and to provide feedback to the TVOMB. Commenters should
identify the specific recommendation from the 2019 Report about which
they are commenting. Comments should include any surveys or data used
to support the comments.
Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2026-08624 Filed 5-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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