Skip to main content
H.R. 2964 104th Congress House

Parents Television Empowerment Act of 1996

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a toll free telephone number for the collection of compla… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a toll free telephone number for the collection of complaints concerning violence and other patently offense material on broadcast and cable television, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 9, 1996 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative procedureCable televisionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerce
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
CongressCongressional reporting requirementsConsumer complaintsFamiliesFederal Communications CommissionGovernment paperworkIndependent regulatory commissionsLawRight of privacyScience, Technology, CommunicationsTelephoneTelevision advertisingTelevision and childrenTelevision programsTelevision stationsViolence in television
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 13, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Feb 9, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Feb 9, 1996
Introduced in House
Feb 5, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E160)
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action February 13, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Parents Television Empowerment Act of 1996 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a toll-free number for the collection of public comments, suggestions, and complaints (comments) concerning the transmission by broadcast stations or cable systems of programming containing depictions of violence and other patently offensive material. Requires the FCC to: (1) publicize such number and the FCC's functions under this Act; (2) publish a summary of comments received in the Federal Register quarterly; (3) transcribe such comments; (4) transmit to each licensee any comments made concerning its station; (5) make such comments available for public inspection; (6) omit from any records transmitted or made available the name and address of any caller requesting confidentiality; and (7) include an analysis of such comments in an annual report to the Congress.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2964: Parents Television Empowerment Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2964/
MLA
"H.R. 2964: Parents Television Empowerment Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2964/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2964, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2964/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2964: Parents Television Empowerment Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2964/)
Report a problem