*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 53675.doc* NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: December 12, 2005 David Fiske at (202) 418- 0513 CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN’S STATEMENT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CABLE COMPANIES MAY VOLUNTARILY OFFER FAMILY TIERS I am pleased that some cable companies may respond to consumer demand and begin to voluntarily offer family tiers. For several years, I have been urging the cable and satellite industry to give parents additional tools to help them address the increasing amount of coarse programming on television. Offering a family- friendly package has always been one of the options I supported. I look forward to hearing more about the details of their plans and hope that it will provide parents with real options to address parents’ legitimate concerns with having to purchase programming that they believe is unsuitable for their children. 1