Do you think the Media Bureau within the Federal Communications Commission should make any amendments to its TV Parental Guidelines age ratings system, to ensure that it is responsive to the issues that parents confront today?
If so, there’s a comment window in a Media Bureau docket that’s just opened, as the Commission considers whether to “further empower parents to protect their children and make informed choices about the TV programs their children watch.”
The query is tied to MB Docket No. 19-41, which comes 30 years after the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
In passing this legislation, Congress provided the relevant television and video programming industries with an option: they could establish their own voluntary system for rating video programming or the Commission could establish a ratings system itself.
Industry representatives chose to set up their own voluntary system, and the Commission in 1998 found that industry’s approach met the relevant statutory criteria. This resulted in the TV Oversight Management Board, which developed the TV Parental Guidelines and age ratings that is in use today. That resulted in the on-screen TV-Y, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, and TV-MA ratings cues seen on programs across the U.S.
Comments Due: 05-22-2026
Reply Comments Due: 06-22-2026
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr commented on the Media Bureau docket via an X social media post on Wednesday.
Years ago, Congress passed a law that empowers parents to decide the types of TV programs that are appropriate for their kids by standing up a TV show ratings system.
But recently, parents have raised concerns with the industry’s approach—including with ratings creep.… pic.twitter.com/RvJAXc1Ur4
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) April 22, 2026
Specifically, the Media Bureau notes that in today’s times, both the traditional broadcast TV sector, multichannel video programming distribution services (MVPDs) and streaming platforms use the voluntary ratings system. In recent years, however, significant concerns have been raised about the ratings system.
For instance, commenters have raised concerns with the FCC about the accuracy of the ratings, the appropriateness of the ratings, and a shift or ratings creep in which mature, adult, or inappropriate content is being rated as appropriate for young children.
“The FCC wants to ensure that the ratings system continues to serve the purpose that Congress had in mind—empowering parents to make informed decisions for their children,” the Media Bureau said.
Critics may feel differently, viewing it as another effort fueled by the conservative Center for American Rights, led by Daniel Suhr, to have the FCC become the Content Police.
That’s because the Media Bureau notice specifically states the following:
Recently, parents have raised concerns that controversial gender identity issues are being included or promoted in children’s programs without providing any disclosure or transparency to parents. Specifically, the industry guidelines that parents rely on are rating shows with transgender and gender non-binary programming as appropriate for children and young children, and doing so without providing this information to parents, thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families. Consistent with Congress’s vision for the ratings system, we seek comment on whether the industry’s approach is continuing to provide the information that is relevant to parents today.
Whether or not you agree with this is soon up for comment.
View the entire notice by clicking here: DA-26-392A1
