Media Coalition Comment FCC MB 09-194

Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) MB Docket No. 09-194 Empowering Parents and Protecting Children in an ) Evolving Media Landscape ) COMMENTS OF MEDIA COALITION, INC. Dear Commissioners, These comments are submitted in response to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Notice of Inquiry dated October 23, 2009 and published November 24, 2009. The Media Coalition was established in 1973; its members are trade associations representing most of the publishers; movie, recording and video game manufacturers; booksellers; librarians; and recording, video and video game retailers and their customers in the 1United States. The Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeks comment on a broad range of complex legal and social science issues relating to the regulation of various kinds of content in electronic communication. The members of the Media Coalition understand that children today have access to a broader ranger of speech than ever before. We recognize the concern of some parents that their children may be consuming speech that they feel is inappropriate. While acknowledging these concerns, it is important to make clear that any government regulation of speech based on content is suspect. Generally, regulation by the government of speech based on its violent, profane or hateful content is not permissible, and sexual content can be restricted only if it ...