From: Dr. Linda H. Alexander, ETSU To: A16.A16(kidstv) Date: 10/9/95 2:42pm Subject: Children*s Television-MM Docket #93-48 Dear Mr/Ms. Secretary of the Federal Communications Commission 1919 M Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20554 I understand that the FCC has called for comments in regards to children*s television in the U.S. This email is in regards to: MM Docket #93-48. My name is Linda H. Alexander.I am an assistant professor at East Texas State University in Elementary Education. My doctorate is from the University of North Texas with a minor in technology for K-12 education. My Master*s degree is from the University of Hawaii in Educational Communications and Technology with a specialization in television and film. My dissertation was a study of Internet listservs as follow-up to satellite teleconferences for faculty development. I have been an instructional design consultant for Dallas County Community College District helping professors prepare their classes for interactive television. I have been a K-12 classroom teacher both in the U.S. and abroad, mostly in English as a Second Language classrooms. I am a parent of two young men. I have lived abroad for 11 years of my adult life in Japan, Canada and England. Therefore, I have seen children*s television in other countries, while our children were growing up. I am a certified Librarian/Media Specialist who has worked as an elementary school librarian. I now am a professor teaching graduate and under graduate students who are either teachers or are preparing to become teachers. I teach courses in reading, language arts and technology (computers) at the Mesquite Center for Professional Development and Technology in field-based program (cooperation between the East Texas State University, the Mesquite Independent School District and the Texas Center for Educational Technology located at the University of North Texas). I believe, that there were no teeth in the Children's Television Act enacted in 1990. Broadcasters are not required to meet any standards for quality or quantity of children's programming. I understand that the Federal Communications Commission is now calling for public comment on the quality of educational programming for children. The history of children's educational programming in the U.S. shows that broadcasters will not voluntarily meet children's educational programming needs. In thirty-five years, increases in educational programming have come after massive pressure from the public and organizations who monitor children*s programing. * Please consider the following: -The Processing Guideline should consist of one hour of "core" educational programming daily per broadcaster. --Quality "core" programs should be: * specifically designed to educate and inform children * at least thirty minutes in length per program * regularly scheduled * aired between 7am and 9pm * producable outside of the U.S. if deemed appropriate (e.g particularly, Great Britain, Canada and Australia who produce quality children*s programming). * designed to promote good children*s literature, science and math, the arts, good citizenship, cooperation and high moral standards that emphasize responsibility and accountability. * low levels of violence * high production quality. * gender and ethnic sensitive Congress is poised to give broadcasters $37 billion worth of free access to the airwaves. If the FCC and Congress are giving away this lucrative spectrum space, I think that our nation*s children deserve high quality children's programming in return. This is only a minimal acknowledgment of broadcasters' responsibilities to serve the "public interest". Sincerely, Linda H. Alexander ---------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Linda H. Alexander Assistant Professor in Elementary Education East Texas State University in the Mesquite Center for Professional Development & Technology Email: lalexand@tenet.edu, Tel. 214-618-3487 (H).