All Hands on Deck: Cable to Help Parents/Kids Safely Navigate Online Seas

Major MSOs such as Cox, Comcast and Time Warner Cable have made some decent strides in promoting Internet safety for kids, and much of the cable industry has now galvanized to further these efforts through the "PointSmart.ClickSafe" initiative. Cablevision COO Tom Rutledge, AETN pres/CEO Abbe Raven and CIC exec dir Helen Soule joined the NCTA in D.C. Wed to announce the participation by all NCTA member companies—including more than 200 cable nets—in the initiative, designed to offer educational materials, tips and controls so that parents may help children safely surf the Web. "We are invited into people’s homes, and we take that responsibility very seriously," said Raven. "Just as we teach children not to talk to strangers… we need to teach them to walk safely online." PointSmartClickSafe.org highlights initiative themes, including an industry pledge to help consumers experience a safer online environment by instilling useful knowledge about changing media. "As [Internet] providers, we realize customers can’t really enjoy it if they don’t understand it," said Rutledge. "It’s important to recognize all the content and images on the Internet that [are] accessible to children." Numerous partners such as the PTA and the Public Library Association will further the initiative’s reach, and the cable industry later this year will host a national online safety summit to set online safety "gold standards," said Soule. Policymakers lauded such efforts. "I welcome initiatives like these…and encourage members of the arts and entertainment community, including every cable operator and programmer, to offer consumer education regarding media literacy," said FCC commish Deborah Taylor Tate. Said Sen John Ensign (R-NV): "This initiative by the cable industry will give families an important resource to ensure that their children have a fun, educational and safe experience online."