WASHINGTON-A CTIA-led effort to create a mobile-content ratings system has been dropped-at least for now.
The CTIA board recently voted unanimously to recommend that wireless operators implement the Carrier Content Classification and Internet Access Guidelines created by the trade group and its member companies, but a CTIA-sponsored ratings system has been shelved.
“There won’t be a CTIA ratings system,” confirmed CTIA spokesman Joe Farren after RCR Wireless News learned of the CTIA board’s vote last month in San Francisco.
The Internet Access Guidelines are meant to educate people that it is possible to get access to non-carrier-controlled content. The Carrier Content Classification guidelines will designate whether carrier-controlled content is appropriate for all ages or only those older than 18, but go no further. The movie-rating system contains more categories: G, PG, PG-13, R and X. The TV-ratings system gives age-appropriate ratings and also explains why a show has been given a certain rating. For example, a V rating warns people that violence takes place on the show.
A full-fledged ratings system for wireless content could come later, but that is far from certain.
While mobile content is just barely catching on in the United States, where advanced networks are still novel, concerns about mobile content have been permeating around the world for several years. Today’s efforts focus mostly on protecting children from mobile porn.
Instead of implementing a ratings system with the CTIA moniker-like the consumer code of conduct and equipment certification program-CTIA hired a third party to examine various categories of content, including video and images, music and audio, games, adult-orientated services, and lotteries and gambling. This third party later could create a ratings system, said Farren. Farren declined to name the third party.
Using a third party for an industry initiative may indicate carriers were split on whether to create a new ratings system. CTIA hired a third party to create a directory of wireless telephone numbers after some of its members expressed an interest. However, that effort stalled amid threat of state and federal legislation prohibiting a wireless directory and the public defection of Verizon Wireless from the effort.
Whatever the final outcome of the industry’s efforts to flag inappropriate content, Farren said that no carrier plans to offer adult carrier-controlled content until the carrier has implemented the Carrier Content Classification and Internet Access Guidelines.
Today, people can access mobile porn from handsets and PDAs but not through the carrier’s deck. However, Amp’d Mobile Inc. said it might offer adult content. The mobile virtual network operator plans to launch later this year, using Verizon Wireless’ network.
CTIA had been sponsoring industry meetings with carriers, content developers, filter creators and regulators to devise a system of rating mobile content in much the same way movies, TV, music and computer games are rated. The meetings began as Kevin Martin was transitioning from being a member of the Federal Communications Commission to being its chairman. Martin is noted for his stance against indecency in broadcasting. Indeed, Martin has hired Penny Nance to work specifically on indecency issues. Attempts to contact Nance were not acknowledged.
Farren said CTIA has kept the FCC informed of its activities. “We have had a handful of conversations with FCC officials to keep them up to date on our progress and they have been supportive of our efforts and we believe they will be pleased with the final product,” Farren told RCR Wireless News.
Even without a ratings system, there are ways to protect children from inappropriate content. One such company, RuleSpace, has been developing content filters for the Internet since its earliest days and is hoping to carry those efforts to the wireless space, said James Dirksen, RuleSpace vice president of operations.
RuleSpace uses contextual analysis to determine inappropriate content, said Alistair Allan, RuleSpace chief executive officer. “If we find the word `breast’ on a Web page, it may or may not be a porn site. If we find the word `chicken’ or `cancer,’ it is probably not porn, but if we find `fetish’ it might be,” said Allan.
