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 SEPARATE  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  KEVIN  J.  MARTIN 
 Re:  Children’s  Television  Obligations  of  Digital  Television  Broadcasters,  Report  and  Order,  MM  Docket  No.  00-  167  (September  9,  2004) 


 I’m  pleased  to  support  this  Order  promoting  children’s  programming  on  digital  television.  I  recognize  that  the  action  we  take  today  will  increase  the  obligations 
 placed  on  broadcasters,  but  I  also  recognize  the  vital  role  that  broadcasters  play  in  serving  the  interests  of  children—  and  their  parents.  We  therefore  take  steps  to  ensure  the 
 continuation  of  our  children’s  programming  guidelines  as  well  as  facilitate  parents’  ability  actually  to  find  the  programming. 


 Parents  often  complain  that  there  is  not  enough  broadcast  programming  that  is  suited  for  family  viewing.  This  is  why  I  have  long  advocated  a  return  of  the  Family 
 Viewing  Hour.  While  the  new  guidelines  we  adopt  today  may  not  increase  the  amount  of  programming  that  appeals  to  the  whole  family,  it  is  certainly  a  step  in  the  right  direction 
 for  parents  and  their  children.  It  is  my  hope  that  broadcasters  take  advantage  of  improvements  in  technology  and  compression  to  devote  even  more  time  and  ingenuity  to 
 family  or  children’s  programming.  For  example,  they  might  create  an  exclusively  “family  TV”  or  “kids  TV”  channel  on  one  of  their  multicast  streams.  Such  a  channel 
 could  also  employ  exciting,  educational  interactive  features.  I  therefore  look  forward  to  exploring  in  the  Further  Notice  the  ways  in  which  we  can  encourage  flexibility  and 
 interactivity  without  sacrificing  the  accessibility  of  children’s  programming  or  opening  the  door  to  creeping  commercialization. 
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