• Adweek, Friday, June 15, 2007 11:15 AM

Kevin Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, praises new legislation that would slap broadcast "indecency" standards onto cable programming while forcing operators to offer a la carte services.

Backers of the Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007 claim the law is necessary to help parents control what their kids watch. "In today's culture, parents are increasingly worried that their children are exposed to obscene, indecent and violent programming," said Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill. "While there is no doubt that parents are the first line of defense in protecting their kids, clearly they need more help."

Martin endorses the bill, saying it is similar to policies he has already been pushing. "While it may surprise some, I actually agree with many critics of the FCC that parents-not the government-should be the first and last line of defense," Martin said. "But that means that parents must have meaningful choices, and that their choices must have meaningful consequences."

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