June 19, 1997

STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE ON TV RATINGS

Message Creation Date was at 19-JUN-1997 16:07:00
      
THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President
_______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release      
Contact: 202-456-7035
Thursday, June 19, 1997

STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE ON TV RATINGS

 Today, I met with parent groups and Congressional leaders as part of our 
effort to follow up on the work we started when we signed the 
Telecommunications Act that required the V-Chip. 

 Today's meeting was the next step after the meetings I had last week with 
family and industry groups.  At those meetings, parent groups made it loud and 
clear that they want additional content based ratings, and industry 
representatives gave assurances that industry would work with the parent groups 
to try to resolve this issue.

 Both sides have worked hard to reach common ground.  I commend them for their 
effort thus far and I urge them to do what is right for the country and find a 
way to reach an agreement.

 Now, more than ever, it's time for the industry to put the V back in the 
V-Chip.  We need a V -- a V to tell us when our youngest children could be 
exposed to violence. 

 I remain hopeful that the television industry will decide to add V, S and L to 
the ratings, and that they will make sure that parents are given reliable 
information about the level of violence in Y-7 rated programs -- the rating for 
acceptable programming for children over age 7.  In return, we think it is only 
fair that we allow sufficient time for the V-chip and the ratings system to 
work in America's homes.

 To ensure that we have time to resolve this complex issue, I am also 
announcing that the Administration will officially ask the FCC to move back the 
date of the FCC's hearing on television ratings now scheduled for Friday.

 An agreement that will give parents more information about television 
programming to help parents make choices about what is appropriate for their 
children to watch is within our reach.  Let's seize this opportunity. 

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