The Blog

Jim Steyer of Common Sense Media introduces Chairman Genachowski.  Paraphrasing:  “If there was one person in this country who could have the most impact on this, I guess I’d say it is the President…But if it’s anyone else, it’s the person I’m about to introduce:  Julius Genachowski.  It’s amazing that we have him there, because we need his leadership.  He’s a dad, with a teenage football star son.  … So he understands.  And he’s an extraordinary legal scholar. He clerked for two different SCT justices.  Definitely a really smart guy.  And he spent time in the public sector and introduced me to the field of public media and children’s television.  Also spent time in the private sector.

But fundamentally, he’s an incredibly devoted dad, and that’s why we should be pleased that he’s Chairman and can usher in this new era.”

Chairman Genachowski:  I’ve watched Jim Steyer thinking, educating, fighting, acting, for kids.  Round of applause for him.  [Recognizes other staff who are in the room, including particularly Colin Crowell, who personally gave birth to the children's television act.]

This is a time of unprecedented challenge around kids and media and unprecedented opportunity.  The world is a different place now.  When I was a child, my parents had to worry about one TV in the basement and they had rules that worked.  Parents today have a very different experience. There’s still a TV, but many different channels – and many other sources.  Kids have computers, and there are dangers lurking.  Kids have mobile phones, using them actively.  These create real challenges for parents.  The car is becoming the next screen.  In some ways, a terrific thing – in an accident, say.  But there’s no question that distracted driving is killing people every day.  Particular problem among new drivers and teens.

So there are enormous challenges created by innovation, digital technology, new markets.  But these same factors provide great opportunities.

Three categories:  technological innovation, business model innovation – creative thinking about how to create new markets -; and social innovation.  We are healthiest as a society when all of these forms of innovation are working together. We need our great innovators to be thinking about these challenges to kids as they develop these new technologies.  Same thing on the business model side. In the broad marketplace, lots of people looking for educational content – new markets to be tapped. Opportunities to think creatively about principles that animated the children’s television act.  How do we think about those levers in a digital world.

First, we have a proceeding at the FCC that is looking at how to apply these principles – please comment!  Second, we’re looking at our own communication ability and thinking about how to harness that to better educate kids and empower parents.  Finding new ways to get public information to the public – we’re trying to present information about educational programming on the FCC web site to parents in useful ways.

Here’s the big news.  http://reboot.fcc.gov.  Using technology to get advice about FCC’s web site and data strategy- and to help the Commission act more efficiently.

REBOOT .FCC .GOV is your portal to take part in improving citizen interactions with the Federal Communications Commission. At Reboot, you can not only stay informed on what’s happening at the FCC but also get involved. Together we can help make the FCC a model of excellence in government. Please join the discussion.

Latest from the blog

• Redesigning the FCC Website Posted January 07 2010 at 12:03 PM by David Kitzmiller
• Welcome to Reboot.FCC.gov Posted January 06 2010 at 4:00 AM by Julius Genachows

Conclusion:  The door is open at FCC for your best ideas and best suggestions for protecting and empowering children in the digital age.