Media Contact: 
Joel Miller, (202) 418-2300
Joel.Miller@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL O’RIELLY 
ON CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING WAIVER 

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2020.  “I applaud Chairman Pai’s continued leadership to provide targeted relief to local broadcasters in order to help confront the COVID-19 public health emergency.  The grant of today’s waiver for stations that preempt certain children’s programming in order to broadcast community events, such as religious services, should encourage more Americans to stay home during this difficult time, and particularly during this season.  This sort of common sense relief will allow stations to keep up their efforts to protect the health and safety of their local communities.  

“Staying physically isolated over the coming days is an unfortunate, but critically important, choice that many will have to make, and now with the help of  broadcasters, locally produced community events like religious services that are aired live or on the same day can qualify for Kid Vid preemptions.  Children’s programming is as important as ever during this period of mass isolation, but this limited waiver could help stations serve their communities in a way that may truly save lives.  The work of local broadcasters to bring matters such as this to our attention, including Gray Television in this instance, has been incredibly valuable as the Commission continues to do our part to combat COVID-19.” 


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Office of Commissioner Mike O’Rielly: (202) 418-2300
Twitter: @mikeofcc
www.fcc.gov/leadership/michael-orielly

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. Cir. 1974).