When you have a lively 6-year-old running around the house with a television set on in virtually every room, it's obviously up to Mom and Dad to monitor what's on.

We get it: Young Nicole's eyes and ears shouldn't be exposed to certain TV programming. She doesn't get to watch "Desperate Housewives."

That position should keep the Federal Communications Commission off our backs, but don't bet on it.

Maybe you missed it, but the FCC's effort to punish CBS and intimidate broadcast and cable television networks into proper behavior was appropriately smacked down by a Federal Appeals Court back in late July.

Who even remembers the controversy? Back at halftime during CBS' Super Bowl XXXVIII telecast on Feb. 1, 2004, singer Janet Jackson's bare breast was briefly exposed. Judging from the subsequent uproar, you'd have thought all the little Johns and Janes who witnessed Jackson's wickedness were emotionally scarred for life.

The FCC decided an immediate crackdown on "indecency" in broadcasting was warranted and nailed CBS with a record $550,000 fine.

One small problem: The FCC violated its own rules with that excessive fine. A three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FFC "acted arbitrarily and capriciously" in issuing the fine for the fleeting image of nudity. And the court found that the FCC deviated from its nearly 30-year practice of fining indecent broadcast programming only when it was so "pervasive as to amount to 'shock treatment' for the audience."

Some Americans want the federal government to compel the broadcast networks to protect children's ears from foul language, sexual content and bloody violence. And the FCC wants Congress to grant the agency that power.

Don't worry grownups. That isn't going to happen.

Most Americans believe it's far better for parents to protect their children from potential TV evils and leave the actual programming up to the networks.

In our house, where televisions are constantly running, this isn't an issue. When Nicole's mother is watching the Food Network or a "CSI" episode, Nicole is watching "SpongeBob SquarePants."

The sets I have on are almost exclusively devoted to sports. When a football game isn't available, old movies from TMC or sitcom repeats from TV Land are airing. Nicole is acquiring quite an appreciation for "The Andy Griffith Show."

Obviously, there are shows children shouldn't be exposed to in America's living rooms. That's why Nicole won't be watching "The Sopranos" for years to come in ours.

It seems basic enough: If you don't want your little darlings watching and hearing adult language and themes, do something about it. Monitor what your kids watch.