This week, Cox Communications joined a growing number of cable companies that have announced a family friendly package of networks. In Cox’s family package, there’s an average of 40 channels, and the cost is around $32 per month. These networks carry G-rated shows, and to prevent a Janet Jackson-sized surprise, the company chose networks that don’t air a lot of live programming.

Offering a family package is new to the cable industry. With any new offering, there are some technical drawbacks. For example, with the family package cable companies have to install a device outside the home that prevents the signals from networks not included in the family package from entering the home. As a result, you can’t have expanded basic cable on one television in your home and the family package on another. The family package is on every TV in your home.

The good news is that, with digital cable and parental controls, you can create your own family package and decide which TVs you want to show G-rated programs and which ones you want to show all of the content available through cable. The set up is easier than programming a VCR. In a few steps you create a parental block code and program your cable receiver to only allow G-rated programs in your home. And when you and your spouse want to watch something that has a rating higher than G, you simply enter your access code to see the show.

We don’t know how many customers will ultimately opt for the family package, but we know there is an audience -- which we mainly hear from via conservative special interest groups -- that will probably be interested in the package. These consumers are concerned about their dollars supporting shows that don’t align with their belief system. We respect that argument and hope that the family package will meet their needs.

But deciding what your children see on TV is only one part of a growing number of media decisions today’s parents have to make. To help, Cox created Take Charge! , a community relations initiative to increase awareness and use of the parental controls and filtering tools already available through cable and Internet services. We joined forces with children’s advocate and TV host John Walsh to educate families about this issue. Providing tools and resources that are easy to understand and implement, Take Charge! helps parents find great educational TV shows and web sites while keeping their families from content they find objectionable. Program components include a comprehensive web site, a free resource guide and local educational events in Cox communities.