The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has enacted rules in connection with the Children's Television Act. The FCC's rules limit the amount of commercial material that may be aired during programming originally produced and aired primarily for an audience of children 12 years old and younger. The commercial time limitations are as follows:

(1) 10.5 minutes per hour on weekends; and

(2) 12 minutes per hour on weekdays.

The time limitations are prorated for programs that are shorter than one hour in duration.

The commercial time limitations apply to broadcasters and cable operators. The commercial time limitations do not apply to non-commercial educational stations because these stations are prohibited from airing commercials.

Commercial Material

According to the FCC, commercial material includes more than advertisements. For example, where a commercial announcement is primarily for a product otherwise unrelated to a program, but that announcement also includes references to or offers of products which are related to the program, then the broadcast of that commercial announcement during or adjacent to the program will make that program a program-length commercial. In such a case, the entire duration of the program-length commercial will be counted as commercial material. To avoid being considered a program-length commercial, commercial material related to a children's program must be separated from that program by intervening and unrelated program material.

Documentation

Under the FCC's rules, commercial television broadcasters are required to place in their local public inspection files certifications that they have complied with the commercial time limits, and they must identify any overages. When a station files an application to renew its FCC license, it must certify that no commercial overages have occurred during the license term, or it must explain any overages. Cable operators must also maintain records to verify compliance and make these available for public inspection.

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