CHILDREN'S TELEVISION ACT OF 1990 Statute Compilation United States House of Representatives Office of the Legislative Counsel text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. GPO Statute Compilations USLM converter, version 20210527.1 2021-10-15 Children's Television Act of 1990 National Endowment for Children's Educational Television Act of 1990 934 101 1990-10-18 CHILDREN'S TELEVISION ACT OF 1990 [Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Public Law 101–437. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/] [Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
AN ACTTo require the Federal Communications Commission to reinstate restrictions on advertising during children's television, to enforce the obligation of broadcasters to meet the educational and informational needs of the child audience, and for other purposes.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
short title Section 1. This Act may be cited as the “Children's Television Act of 1990”.11

Public Law 101–437, 104 Stat. 996, approved Oct. 18, 1990.
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="I">TITLE I—</num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">REGULATION OF CHILDREN'S TELEVISION FINDINGS </heading> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s101" styleType="traditional-inline"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="101">Sec. 101. </num><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:usc-reference" role="uscRef"><b>[</b><ref href="/us/usc/t47/s303a">47 U.S.C. 303a note</ref><b>]</b> </editorialNote><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">The Congress finds that—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s101/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">it has been clearly demonstrated that television can assist children to learn important information, skills, values, and behavior, while entertaining them and exciting their curiosity to learn about the world around them;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s101/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">as part of their obligation to serve the public interest, television station operators and licensees should provide programming that serves the special needs of children;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s101/3" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="3">(3) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">the financial support of advertisers assists in the provision of programming to children;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s101/4" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="4">(4) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">special safeguards are appropriate to protect children from overcommercialization on television;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s101/5" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="5">(5) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">television station operators and licensees should follow practices in connection with children's television programming and advertising that take into consideration the characteristics of this child audience; and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s101/6" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="6">(6) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">it is therefore necessary that the Federal Communications Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “<quotedText style="-uslm-dtd:quote">Commission</quotedText>”) take the actions required by this title.</content> </paragraph> </section> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s102" styleType="traditional"> <heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">standards for children's television programming </heading> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="102">Sec. 102. </num><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:usc-reference" role="uscRef"><b>[</b><ref href="/us/usc/t47/s303a">47 U.S.C. 303a</ref><b>]</b> </editorialNote><subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s102/a" styleType="OLC" class="inline"><num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="a">(a) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">The Commission shall, within 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, initiate a rulemaking proceeding to prescribe standards applicable to commercial television broadcast licensees with respect to the time devoted to commercial matter in conjunction with children's television programming. The Commission shall, within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, complete the rulemaking proceeding and prescribe final standards that meet the requirements of subsection (b).</content></subsection> <subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s102/b" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="b">(b) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">Except as provided in subsection (c), the standards prescribed under subsection (a) shall include the requirement that each commercial television broadcast licensee shall limit the duration of advertising in children's television programming to not more than 10.5 minutes per hour on weekends and not more than 12 minutes per hour on weekdays.</content> </subsection> <subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s102/c" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="c">(c) </num><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">After January 1, 1993, the Commission—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s102/c/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">may review and evaluate the advertising duration limitations required by subsection (b); and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s102/c/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">may, after notice and public comment and a demonstration of the need for modification of such limitations, modify such limitations in accordance with the public interest.</content> </paragraph> </subsection> <subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s102/d" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="d">(d) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">As used in this section, the term “<term style="-uslm-dtd:term">commercial television broadcast licensee</term>” includes a cable operator, as defined in section 602 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522).</content> </subsection> </section> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s103" styleType="traditional"> <heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">CONSIDERATION OF CHILDREN'S TELEVISION SERVICE IN BROADCAST LICENSE RENEWAL </heading> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="103">Sec. 103. </num><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:usc-reference" role="uscRef"><b>[</b><ref href="/us/usc/t47/s303b">47 U.S.C. 303b</ref><b>]</b> </editorialNote><subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s103/a" styleType="OLC" class="inline"><num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="a">(a) </num><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">After the standards required by section 102 are in effect, the Commission shall, in its review of any application for renewal of a commercial or noncommercial television broadcast license, consider the extent to which the licensee—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s103/a/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">has complied with such standards; and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s103/a/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">has served the educational and informational needs of children through the licensee's overall programming, including programming specifically designed to serve such needs.</content> </paragraph></subsection> <subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s103/b" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="b">(b) </num><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">In addition to consideration of the licensee's programming as required under subsection (a), the Commission may consider—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s103/b/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">any special nonbroadcast efforts by the licensee which enhance the educational and informational value of such programming to children; and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s103/b/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">any special efforts by the licensee to produce or support programming broadcast by another station in the licensee's marketplace which is specifically designed to serve the educational and informational needs of children.</content> </paragraph> </subsection> </section> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tI/s104" styleType="traditional"> <heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">program length commercial matter </heading> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="104">Sec. 104. </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall complete the proceeding known as “<quotedText style="-uslm-dtd:quote">Revision of Programming and Commercialization Policies, Ascertainment Requirements and Program Log Requirements for Commercial Television Stations</quotedText>”, MM Docket No. 83–670.</content> </section> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="II">TITLE II—</num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">ENDOWMENT FOR CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION </heading> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tII/s201" styleType="traditional"> <heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">short title </heading> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="201">Sec. 201. </num><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:usc-reference" role="uscRef"><b>[</b><ref href="/us/usc/t47/s609">47 U.S.C. 609 note</ref><b>]</b> </editorialNote><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">This title may be cited as the “<shortTitle style="-uslm-dtd:quote"><inline style="-uslm-dtd:short-title">National Endowment for Children's Educational Television Act of 1990</inline></shortTitle>”.</content> </section> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tII/s202" styleType="traditional"> <heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">findings </heading> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="202">Sec. 202. </num><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:usc-reference" role="uscRef"><b>[</b><ref href="/us/usc/t47/s394">47 U.S.C. 394 note</ref><b>]</b> </editorialNote><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">The Congress finds that—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tII/s202/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">children in the United States are lagging behind those in other countries in fundamental intellectual skills, including reading, writing, mathematics, science, and geography;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tII/s202/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">these fundamental skills are essential for the future governmental and industrial leadership of the United States;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tII/s202/3" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="3">(3) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">the United States must act now to greatly improve the education of its children;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tII/s202/4" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="4">(4) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">television is watched by children about three hours each day on average and can be effective in teaching children;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tII/s202/5" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="5">(5) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">educational television programming for children is aired too infrequently either because public broadcast licensees and permittees lack funds or because commercial broadcast licensees and permittees or cable television system operators do not have the economic incentive; and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tII/s202/6" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="6">(6) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">the Federal Government can assist in the creation of children's educational television by establishing a National Endowment for Children's Educational Television to supplement the children's educational programming funded by other governmental entities.</content> </paragraph> </section> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/101/437/tII/s203" styleType="traditional"> <heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">national endowment for children's educational television </heading> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="203">Sec. 203.<ref style="-uslm-dtd:footnote-ref" idref="IDDB26F14866F74F93BD3B01FAE977A222" class="footnoteRef">1</ref> </num><footnote id="IDDB26F14866F74F93BD3B01FAE977A222" style="-uslm-dtd:footnote"><sup style="-uslm-dtd:superscript">1</sup><p style="-uslm-dtd:para; margin-left:1em">This section added a new subpart B to part IV of title III of the Communications Act of 1934, and made additional conforming changes in that Act, and is reflected in the part of this compilation containing that Act.</p></footnote> </section>