Time Warner Cable has drawn the first line in the sand where family programming tiers are concerned. The cable company said it will offer a programming tier that includes kids' shows, educational programming and news.

For $12.99 a month on top of the company's basic $12 a month service tier, subscribers can access children's programming such as Boomerang, Discovery Kids, Disney Channel, Toon Disney and Nick Games & Sports, as well as The Science Channel, DIY Network, Fit TV, Food Network, Home & Garden Television, La Familia, The Weather Channel, C-SPAN-2, C-SPAN 3 and Headline News.

The cable industry has promised Congress it will deliver family-friendly programming tiers in response to concerns about indecency in cable programming. The remaining debate has been around what constitutes family programming. Other cable companies are expected to announce their programming choices shortly for availability in 2006.