FCC Seeks Public Input on TV Ratings, Parental Controls, and TV Oversight Board Transparency
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The notice opens a public comment process on whether the U.S. TV ratings system still gives parents enough useful information to decide what their children watch. The FCC’s Media Bureau is asking about the accuracy of TV ratings, the transparency and makeup of the TV Oversight Monitoring Board, public awareness of the ratings system and V-chip blocking tools, and whether content descriptions should better flag themes such as gender identity. Comments are due May 22, 2026, and replies are due June 22, 2026. The notice does not create new rules yet. Broadcasters, cable and satellite providers, streaming platforms, content producers, parent groups, faith-based organizations, and child-safety advocates may want to comment because the proceeding could shape future expectations for TV ratings, content descriptors, complaint handling, and consistency across viewing platforms.
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Key Changes
- Opens a public comment period on the accuracy and usefulness of the voluntary TV parental ratings system.
- Asks whether the TV Oversight Monitoring Board is transparent, balanced, and responsive to complaints from the public.
- Seeks input on whether ratings and content descriptions should better disclose certain themes and be applied consistently across broadcast, cable, satellite, and streaming platforms.
Obligations
What this law requires
Interested parties that file initial comments in this FCC proceeding must submit them in MB Docket No. 19-41 on or before the comment deadline.
Interested parties that file reply comments in this FCC proceeding must submit them in MB Docket No. 19-41 on or before the reply comment deadline.
Persons making ex parte presentations in this permit-but-disclose proceeding must file either a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation.
A memorandum summarizing an oral ex parte presentation must list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting and summarize all data presented and arguments made, unless the presenter cites the specific pages or paragraphs of prior filings containing the same data or arguments.
Documents shown or given to FCC staff during ex parte meetings are treated as written ex parte presentations and must be filed in accordance with FCC rule 1.1206(b).