This book argues that it is time for Americans to rebuild their television system and that translating the public interest into a commitment to the nation's children will take time, education, and public debate. The book affirms that American adults need to consider what public interest means with respect to those who are too young to vote, who are barely literate, who are financially, emotionally, and even physically dependent on adults--children, in other words. Although the commercial interests dominating television today argue that the Constitution gives them the right to broadcast whatever they wish, the book points out that this is a false application of the First Amendment. The book also points out that broadcasters are required by law to serve the public interest, and that the Supreme Court and Congress regard service to children as a broadcaster's obligation under law. The book argues that the First Amendment can be used on behalf of children, to help make television a force that will nurture and not harm them. It offers many workable ideas for an effective children's television policy (America is alone among the Western democracies in not yet having one) and for new ways to ensure that the nation's children travel safely on the information superhighway. Appendixes contain "A Bill for Children's Telecommunications" and "The Wasteland Speeches, 1961 and 1991." (NKA)