In an attempt to give parents more control over television content, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandated a change in the way new televisions sold in the United States would be manufactured. The act provided that within a specified time period (the deadline eventually becoming January 2000) all televisions with a diagonal screen size of thirteen inches or larger would contain technology permitting the blocking of programs on the basis of their ratings. This legislation was passed during a time when criticism of television content was increasing and there were several well-publicized incidents of youth violence that were variously attributed to the influence of television. Members of Congress, with leadership from Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), were seeking to provide parents with a way to deal with increasingly violent and sexual content without infringing on the First Amendment rights of the television industry.

Although devices permitting the blocking of television programs...