All four sitting FCC commissioners agreed to consider modifications and clarifications in the rules on educational children's television programming. They were more than happy to do so in light of the fact that the industry and its watchdogs agreed to accept most of the FCC"s Fall 2004 requirements, particularly the increase in total weekly programming for stations using multicasting. It also established a Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) within the commission. The children's TV item, affectionately known as the "Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Children's Television Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasting," asks for commentary on the website rule; the host-selling rule; the promotions rule; the preemption rule; and the multicasting rule. Both Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioner Michael Copps praised the cooperation between industry and watchdog representatives in moving the rulemaking along this far, saying it could be a model for other issues still on the table. Copps also called for further kidvid study, however, noting studies which show that as much as a quarter of programming labeled educational really isn't and that, as the Parents Television Council recently noted, there may be far too much violence mixed in. The PSHSB will take on tasks that are currently dispersed throughout the Commission.

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Duties of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau

* Public safety communications

* 911/Enhanced 911 (E911) requirements

* Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs)

* Interoperability and operability of public safety communications

* Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)

* Priority emergency communications (TSP/WSP programs)

* Alert and warning of U.S. citizens (EAS, etc)

* Continuity of government operations (COG) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning

* Public safety outreach (e.g., PSAPs, first responder organizations)

* Disaster management coordination

* Disaster management outreach

* 24/7 Communications Center

* Communications infrastructure protection

* Network reliability and resiliency

* Network security

* Advisory Committees and panels focused on public safety and security issues

* Studies and reports of public safety, homeland security, and disaster management issues