(AgapePress) - Media executives, government regulators, consumer advocates, televangelists and other religious broadcasters gathered yesterday in Washington, DC, for an "Open Forum on Decency," held by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens of Alaska. One of the key figures participating was Kevin Martin, head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who advised the forum that selling cable channels "a la carte" is a good idea.

During the Senate forum, network and media executives traded barbs with pro-family advocacy organizations over media indecency and the need for more control over programming content. Senator Stevens told the media officials the time has come to take action to clean up broadcasts.

"We're not involved in this to bring about censorship," Stevens said. "We're here to really give an opportunity for those who really represent the families of America to listen to those of you who run the media that they currently believe does not fulfill their wishes to have the kind of moral compass the country should have for our young people."

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin

FCC Official Calls for More Family-Friendly Viewer Options
The FCC's Kevin Martin turned out to be a strong voice for the interests of families, and an advocate for the "a la carte" approach to cable programming sales. He said this system would help parents save money, keep closer tabs on what their children watch, and keep objectionable channels out of their homes.

Cable and satellite providers have complained that offering "a la carte" pricing or more family-friendly tiers of channels would drive up their marketing, equipment, and customer service costs and hence would drive up consumer costs as well. However, Martin told the forum participants that a previous FCC study concluding that "a la carte" cable choice would cost consumers more, is full of errors since it "relied on problematic assumptions and presented incorrect and incomplete analysis."

Associated Press reports that the FCC spokesman, in his address, went on to encourage U.S. cable companies to offer a family-friendly cable package allowing parents to exclude channels they feel their children should not watch. Otherwise, he warned, the FCC might be compelled to step in and respond to public outcry against increasingly raunchy programming.

Martin noted that consumers today have the choice of hundreds of television channels, including not only some of the best programming ever produced but also "some of the coarsest programming ever aired." In fact, he added, the networks "appear to be increasing the amount of programs designed to 'push the envelope' -- and too often, the bounds of decency" as well.

Parents who want to watch television with their children too often feel that, despite the plethora of viewing choices, they have too little to watch, the federal regulator continued. Cable and satellite TV offer some great family-oriented options, he said, but unfortunately parents cannot subscribe to those channels alone and thereby avoid being subjected to programming they find offensive or inappropriate.

Martin's suggestion that cable companies offer family-safe tiers of channels, he explained, is in response to the complaints of many consumers who feel "forced to buy the channels they do not want their families to view in order to obtain the family-friendly channels they desire." Another option, the FCC chairman pointed out, "would be to allow consumers to choose a specific menu of channels from a menu of available programming for a fixed price -- i.e., ten channels for $20 or 20 channels for $30. Parents then would be able to receive and pay for only the programming that they are comfortable bringing into their homes."

In any case, Martin stated, "Parents need better and more tools to help them navigate the entertainment waters, particularly on cable and satellite TV." His comments have been well received by a number of Christian and pro-family leaders: AP reports that National Religious Broadcasters president Frank Wright endorsed the FCC official's ideas, noting that the United States Constitution does not provide a shield for obscenity.

Christian and Pro-Family Leaders Diverge Over 'A La Carte' Idea
"Obscenity is everywhere and always unprotected by the First Amendment," Wright points out. "Indecency, of course, is different," he asserts, "and our concern is when indecency is exposed to our children." And Brent Bozell of the Los Angeles-based Parents Television Council (PTC), agreeing with Martin's and Wright's sentiments, says he prays that perhaps now "finally, finally something will be done." PTC officials see "a la carte" cable choice as an overdue solution that will effectively start to address the issue of indecency on cable TV.

Some Christian broadcasters see the issue differently, however. Paul Crouch, Jr., of Trinity Broadcasting Network in Santa Ana feels it is important that cable operators continue to expose subscribers to niche channels, including religious ones, that people might not order on their own. He is quoted in the Los Angeles Times as observing, "We don't just want to preach to the choir; we want to reach the unchurched. The bottom line is that we want to be everywhere on cable."

According to the Times article, a number of Christian broadcasters -- including well-known figures such as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell -- are worried that changing the current cable marketing system will reduce their viewership. This concern puts them at odds with many Christian leaders who might normally be considered their allies in the indecency debate.

Gospel Music president Charles Humbard has suggested that the answer to indecency on cable is not more religious programming but more federal regulation -- that is, the extension of broadcasting indecency rules to cable television. However, cable companies and other major media organizations have been fighting government efforts to further regulate their programming.

Media Execs Balk at Increased Regulation
Two media giants, Time Warner and Comcast Corp., who are currently seeking FCC approval of their multi-billion-dollar acquisition of Adelphia Communications Corp., have reportedly argued that the FCC has no authority to require them to offer a family-friendly tier of channels as a condition of approving the business deal. Nevertheless, the federal agency intends to seek public comment next month on a proposal that would require the cable industry to offer consumers "a la carte" programming options.

Meanwhile, the Times quotes the Walt Disney Company's executive vice president of government relations, Preston Padden, as warning that it is the consumers who will lose out if the FCC's proposal is approved and put into effect. But Kevin Martin told the forum audience that a forthcoming report, now being finalized by the Media Bureau and the FCC's Chief Economist, concludes that offering "a la carte" cable programming could be in consumers' best interests.

Also, the FCC chairman noted, the report explores several alternatives for increasing consumer choice that would provide "substantial consumer benefits if their provision were mandated." Martin added that he believes the best solution to this controversy would be for the media industry to take measures to address the issue voluntarily. In any event, he asserted, "something needs to be done."

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