http://www.yahoo.com/headlines/current/politics/stories/tvviolence.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)
WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt, on a crusade to improve television for children, predicted that broadcasters may finally be ready to submit to tougher standards.
``I think that broadcasters are going to rise to the occasion,'' Hundt said in an interview. ``They're going to suggest sensible rules imposed on the whole industry that will guarantee'' family-friendly programs.
Some broadcasters see things differently. They say the industry is unlikely to back an FCC proposal that would force it to air a minimum amount of educational TV each week.
Hundt has assailed his own agency's track record in enforcing broadcasters' obligations, noting that regulators have for years neglected to yank airwave licenses of those who fail to serve the public with informative programs.
He has been a vocal critic of both the lack of quality TV aimed at kids and of what he sees as broadcasters' longstanding reluctance to provide something better.
Hundt also sees big changes as broadcasters recognize what is at stake.
``Broadcasters justly seek and frequently get special treatment because they are the trustees of public property,'' he said. ``They will want all of this and more in the digital age.''
Hundt advocates taking away licenses of those who fail to generate a minimum amount of children's educational TV.
At the request of the three major networks, the FCC just extended until October the time the industry and others have to comment on its controversial children's TV rules. Hundt said the extension was granted ``in order to give (broadcasters) more time to reach that conclusion'' about the need for rules.
The National Association of Broadcasters said it will be filing comments on the FCC's proposed quotas for educational shows. ``As far as we're concerned, we're opposed to them,'' said Jeffrey Baumann, general counsel for the trade group.
A television network executive based in Washington ruled out the possibility that networks would support Hundt's plan to impose specific guidelines requiring them to air a set amount of educational TV each week.
``We're going to try to come up with something innovative,'' said the executive, who asked not to be identified. ``It may not be what (Hundt) wants. We are working on some ideas.''