On September 17, NAB submitted a "friend of the court" brief to the Supreme Court in a case involving the constitutionality of government regulation of violent media content, specifically video games. NAB and other media organizations are concerned that government regulation of violent content in one medium may widen the scope of the government’s authority to regulate violence in other media, including television programming. In fact, in a 2007 report to Congress, the FCC endorsed action to regulate violent programming on television.

NAB's brief described how, despite decades of governmental interest in regulating violence on television, no objective, precise and constitutionally acceptable definition of "violence" has ever been formulated. The brief also discussed the V-chip and other effective technological tools available to parents to control the programming viewed by their children. NAB argued that these types of tools are the preferred, First Amendment-friendly way to address concerns with media content and that the government should promote the development and use of such technologies, rather than attempting to regulate content.

The Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the violent video game case in November.

To read a copy of the brief, click here.