House bill may migrate broadcast indecency regulations to cable

Ars Technica dropped an update on the “Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007,” (press release) cosponsored by Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). The bill proposes to give subscribers options for more “family-friendly” programming in two ways: (1) forcing cable providers to follow FCC broadcast indecency standards related to the scheduling of programming and the self-defined show rating, and (2) offering consumers an a la carte option to opt-out of particular channels.

Without making a moral judgment, I will say that if the bill passes, I can see it pushing consumers to the Internet in droves. People are curious—the youth especially. When TV ceases to bring life to the world that exists on the boundaries of their experiences, the consumers will lose interest and new generations will cease to pick up the TV habit. (Perhaps better said as, “The consumers have already lost interest and new generations haven’t picked up the TV habit.”)

At this juncture, the “consumer choice” that the bill proposes is the choice to narrow programming, rather than expand it. Unfortunately, in an age of unprecedented choice in entertainment, I can’t see it providing many long-term benefits to consumers, other than hastening their collective migration to other entertainment options.