Action for Children's Television (ACT)

Founded: 1968

Type of organization: American media advocacy group

Significance: ACT has worked to improve television programming for children by making it noncommercial

Made up of individual members and participating organizations, ACT is primarily concerned with the lack of responsible children’s programming. Since it was founded, ACT has petitioned both the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to require a reasonable amount of high-quality programming for children each week. It has commissioned studies on the effects of television on children and has conducted symposiums to disseminate their findings. Members of ACT have also testified before congressional committees investigating programming practices of television stations. Each year the group honors outstanding producers of children’s television with achievement awards.

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