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                                                                   DA 12-1143

                                                               July  17, 2012

                                             Enforcement Advisory No. 2012-04

       ENFORCEMENT BUREAU REPORTS ON CABLE AND SATELLITE COMPLIANCE WITH
    CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE CHILDREN'S TELEVISION ACT
                        AND ASSOCIATED PUBLIC FILE RULES

   In this Enforcement Advisory, the Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) reports on
   its review of cable and satellite compliance to ensure that programming
   targeted to children meets the requirements of the Children's Television
   Act of 1990 (CTA). Compliance with these requirements is important in
   light of the significant role that television plays in the lives of
   American children. Although we found that cable and satellite providers
   generally complied with the limits on commercial material during
   children's programming, several providers failed to update their public
   inspection files in a timely manner. With that in mind, this Advisory
   reminds cable and satellite operators of their obligations associated with
   the transmission of children's programming.

   In passing the CTA, Congress found that special safeguards are appropriate
   to protect children from over-commercialization on television. To provide
   such safeguards, the CTA and the FCC's rules limit the amount of
   commercial matter in children's programming and require the maintenance of
   records documenting compliance. These rules, covering programming targeted
   to children ages 12 years old and younger, apply to television
   broadcasters, cable operators, and direct broadcast satellite systems. In
   particular, commercial matter transmitted during children's programming
   must not exceed 10.5 minutes per hour on weekends and 12 minutes per hour
   on weekdays. Additionally, broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite
   systems that air children's programming must maintain records sufficient
   to verify their compliance with the advertising restrictions and make such
   records available to the public.

   As part of our regular activities to monitor compliance with children's
   programming rules applicable to cable and satellite operators, last year
   the Bureau initiated a review of children's programming on cable and
   satellite systems in communities across the country. Bureau field agents
   and headquarters employees recorded and reviewed programming from several
   children's programming networks on numerous cable and satellite systems,
   focusing on programming aimed at children 12 and under. The programming
   was analyzed for compliance with commercial limits as well as the
   prohibitions on host selling, program-length commercials, and the display
   of commercial website Internet addresses. Bureau field agents also
   inspected the public files of cable and satellite systems across the
   country to assess compliance with relevant recordkeeping requirements.

   The Bureau's investigation and analysis found that cable and satellite
   compliance with the CTA requirements was generally good. The Bureau's
   review of children's programming material revealed no violations of the
   limits on commercial matter. In addition, our investigation and review of
   operators' public files found that the vast majority maintained documents
   to sufficiently verify compliance with the rules and made these files
   available to the public.

   Despite widespread compliance, however, we found some apparent violations
   of the public file requirements. Over one-third of the public file
   inspections revealed either missing or late-filed Children's Programming
   Reports. We remind cable and satellite operators that these reports must
   be placed in the public inspection file within 10 days of the end of each
   quarter.

   To address these apparent violations of the Public File rules, we are
   releasing the following Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) and Notices of
   Violation (NOVs) concurrent with this Enforcement Advisory:

   CCO SOCAL I, LLC, Gilroy, California; Notice of Violation, EB-11-SF-0117

   Cebridge Acquisition, LP, Bryan, Texas; Notice of Violation, EB-11-HU-0053

   Charter Communications, Inc., Athens, Georgia; Notice of Violation,
   EB-11-AT-0087

   Charter Communications, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas; Notice of Violation,
   EB-11-DL-0061

   Comcast of Howard County, Inc., Elkridge, Maryland; Notice of Violation,
   EB-11-CF-0093

   Comcast of Illinois XI LLC, Mount Prospect, Illinois; Notice of Violation,
   EB-11-CG-0248

   Cox Communications Louisiana LLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Notice of
   Violation, EB-11-OR-0074

   DirecTV, Inc., El Segundo, California; Notice of Violation, EB-11-LA-0176

   DISH Network, LLC, Englewood, Colorado; Notice of Violation, EB-11-DV-0201

   Time Warner Entertainment, Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Kansas City,
   Missouri; Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order,
   EB-11-KC-0058

   Verizon Florida LLC, Hillsborough County, Florida; Notice of Violation,
   EB-11-TP-0051

   The NAL finds Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership
   (Time Warner) apparently liable for a forfeiture in the amount of twenty
   five thousand dollars ($25,000) for violations of Sections 76.1703 and
   76.1704 of the Commission's rules. The Enforcement Bureau's Kansas City
   field agents inspected files at Time Warner's offices on July 18, 2011.
   The files were missing required children's programming records for five
   quarters as well as proof of performance tests for 2008 and 2009.

   The ten NOVs listed above are being issued to the various cable and
   satellite companies for failing to file their children's programming
   material in a timely manner. We caution these companies that future
   violations could result in more severe sanctions, including monetary
   forfeitures.

   We also take this opportunity to remind all cable and satellite operators
   of their ongoing obligations under the CTA and the Commission's rules. The
   Bureau will continue to monitor compliance with these rules consistent
   with their importance in safeguarding children.

   In particular, we remind cable and satellite operators to maintain records
   sufficient to verify their compliance with the advertising restrictions
   and to make such records available to the public. Cable and satellite
   operators are specifically required to update these records in the
   system's public file no later than the tenth day of the quarter following
   the quarter in which the covered programming aired, and they must keep the
   material in the public file for at least one year.

                                         Issued by: Chief, Enforcement Bureau

                                    * * * *

   Need More Information? For additional information regarding this
   Enforcement Advisory, please contact Guy Benson of the Enforcement
   Bureau at 202-418-2946 or at Guy.Benson@fcc.gov. Media inquiries should be
   directed to Neil Grace at (202) 418-0506 or Neil.Grace@fcc.gov.

   For additional information concerning the Children's Television Act rules,
   please contact Kim Matthews at (202) 418-2154 or at Kim.Matthews@fcc.gov.

   To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities
   (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email
   to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at
   202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). You may also contact
   the Enforcement Bureau on its TTY line at 202-418-1148 for further
   information about this Enforcement Advisory, or the Media Bureau on its
   TTY line at (202) 418-0432 or 1 (888) 835-5322 for further information
   about the Children's Programming rules.

                                    - FCC -

   Children's Television Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-437, 104 Stat.
   996-1000, codified at 47 U.S.C. S:S: 303a, 303b, 394 (Children's
   Television Act of 1990).

   See Children's Television Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters,
   Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 19 FCC Rcd
   22943, 22945, para. 3 (2004). See also U.S. General Accounting Office,
   Children's Television Act: FCC Could Improve Efforts to Oversee
   Enforcement and Provide Public Information 1 (July 14, 2011). The report
   reiterated the importance of the CTA and the associated rules.

   See Children's Television Act of 1990, supra note 1.

   See 47 C.F.R. S:S: 73.670, 73.3526(e)(11)(ii).

   See 47 C.F.R. S:S: 76.225, 76.1703.

   See 47 C.F.R. S: 25.701(e).

   See 47 C.F.R. S:S: 73.3526(e)(11)(ii), 76.1703, 25.701(e)(3). See also
   Policies and Rules Concerning Children's Television Programming, Report
   and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 2111, 2113, para. 13 (1991), recons. granted in part,
   6 FCC Rcd 5093, 5098, para. 28 (1991); Implementation of Section 25 of the
   Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, Second
   Order on Reconsideration of First Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd 5647, 5668,
   para. 48 (2004) (2004 Second Order).

   The Commission's "host-selling policy" prohibits the use of program talent
   or other identifiable program character to deliver commercials during or
   adjacent to children's programming featuring that character. 

   See 47 C.F.R. S:S: 76.225, 25.701(e).

   See Policies and Rules Concerning Children's Television Programming,
   Memorandum Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 5093, 5097, para. 23 (1991) (1991
   MO&O); 2004 Second Order, 19 FCC Rcd at 5668, para. 48. See also 47 C.F.R.
   S: 1.80(b)(4).

   47 C.F.R. S:S: 76.1703, 76.1704.

   Pursuant to Section 76.601 of the Commission's Rules (47 C.F.R. S:
   76.601), cable system operators must conduct periodic tests to determine
   the extent to which their systems comply with technical standards. Section
   76.1704 of the Commission's Rules states: "[T]he proof of performance
   tests required by S: 76.601 shall be maintained on file at the operator's
   local business office for at least five years. The test data shall be made
   available for inspection by the Commission or the local franchiser, upon
   request."   47 C.F.R. S: 76.1704.

   See, e.g.,  Children's Television Obligations of Digital Television
   Broadcasters, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making,
   19 FCC Rcd 22943, 22945, para. 5 (2004); Children's Television Obligations
   of Digital Television Broadcasters, Second Order on Reconsideration and
   Second Report and Order, 21 FCC Rcd 11065, 11066, para. 5 (2006). The
   Commission also monitors compliance by television broadcast licensees.
   See, e.g., WSOC Television, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability for
   Forfeiture, 25 FCC Rcd 6124 (2010); WCVB Hearst Television, Inc., Notice
   of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 25 FCC Rcd 6128 (2010); Media
   General Communications Holdings, LLC, Notice of Apparent Liability for
   Forfeiture, 25 FCC Rcd 6132 (2010).

   See 47 C.F.R. S:S: 76.1703, 25.701(e)(3).

   See 1991 MO&O, 6 FCC Rcd at 5097, para. 23; 2004 Second Order, 19 FCC Rcd
   at 5668, para. 48. The retention period must be sufficient to cover the
   limitations specified in 47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(6)(B). See also 47 C.F.R.
   S: 1.80(b)(4) (forfeitures).

                                   Page of 4

   PUBLIC NOTICE

                                   Page of 1

   PUBLIC NOTICE

                            FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY

   Federal Communications Commission

   445 12th St., S.W.

   Washington, D.C. 20554

                                        News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

                                                 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

                                                          TTY: 1-888-835-5322

   Federal Communications Commission

   445 12th St., S.W.

   Washington, D.C. 20554

                                        News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

                                                 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

                                                          TTY: 1-888-835-5322