PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Lets people in the TV industry meet and make voluntary guidelines to reduce harmful violence in programs without being treated as breaking federal competition (antitrust) laws. That safe harbor does not cover any joint action that creates a boycott. It only applies for the three-year period that begins on December 1, 1990. "Antitrust laws" means the federal competition rules (as defined elsewhere, including certain unfair-competition rules). "Person in the television industry" means TV networks, companies that make or show programs (including movies), cable systems, trade groups like the National Association of Broadcasters and the Motion Picture Association, and people acting for them. "Telecast" means a TV station broadcast or a cable or satellite transmission.

Title 47, §303c

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(a)Short title

This section may be cited as the “Television Program Improvement Act of 1990”.

(b)Definitions

For purposes of this section

(1)

(2)the term “person in the television industry” means a television network, any entity which produces programming (including theatrical motion pictures) for telecasting or telecasts programming, the National Cable Television Association, the Association of Independent Television Stations, Incorporated, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Motion Picture Association of America, the Community Antenna Television Association, and each of the networks’ affiliate organizations, and shall include any individual acting on behalf of such person; and

(3)the term “telecast” means—

(A)to broadcast by a television broadcast station; or

(B)to transmit by a cable television system or a satellite television distribution service.

(c)Exemption

The antitrust laws shall not apply to any joint discussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement by or among persons in the television industry for the purpose of, and limited to, developing and disseminating voluntary guidelines designed to alleviate the negative impact of violence in telecast material.

(d)Limitations

(1)The exemption provided in subsection (c) shall not apply to any joint discussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement which results in a boycott of any person.

(2)The exemption provided in subsection (c) shall apply only to any joint discussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement engaged in only during the 3-year period beginning on December 1, 1990.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Television Program Improvement Act of 1990 and also as part of the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990, and not as part of the Communications Act of 1934 which comprises this chapter.

§303c Television Program Improvement

Summary

Title 47, §303c

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata