1. Regulation of Broadcasting

2. Framework For Broadcast Regulations in the United States
“Radio” before 1920, then early ‘20s
Radio Conferences
Radio Act of FRC
Communications Act of FCC
--PICON Principle
--Audience Wants / Audience Needs
--Public vs. Private Control

3. Federal Communications Commission
Making policy for the Electronic Media
Rule Making -- Must Carry, Local / DBS, etc.
Court cases – overstepping authority
Making Policy through Dispute Settlement
Policy Enforcement
Evaluation of Individual Complaints
Licensing--Broadcasting vs. Netcasting
Renewal Challenges
Fines, Short-term Renewals, Forfeitures
Mass Media Bureau

4. Federal Communications Commission
Licensing and Ownership
7-7-7 Rule / TV & Radio Today
CP / Transfer / Technical Changes
8 year License Term / Comparative Renewal
‘going dark’ (12 months)
Prospective Licensee Qualifications
U. S. Citizen / Company, less than 25%
Funds to Operate Three Months
Technical Skill or Knowledge for Hiring
Be of Good Character

5. Federal Communications Commission -- Policy Changes
Fin - Syn Rules
Ascertainment
Anti-Trafficking
PTAR
Program Length Commercials
Duopolies and LMAs
Radio Move-Ins
Cross Ownership
Own 2 networks / further ownership relaxation

6. Regulation of Political Candidate Programming
Equal Opportunities for Political Candidates (Federal)
-Qualified Candidates
-Equal Time & Facilities, Comparable Costs
-Defining “Use” of Broadcast Time
-Exempt Programming
-Newscasts • News Interviews and Documentaries • On-the-Spot Coverage of News Events
-Limits on Broadcaster Censorship of Political Content
-Rates and Sponsor Identification
Access for Political Candidates

7. Regulation of Public Issues Programming: The Fairness Doctrine
Fairness Policies: Post-1987
+Zapple Rule -- required that broadcast stations that give air time to the supporters of one candidate in an election give time to the supporters of competing candidates as well.
Personal Attacks and Political Editorials
Broadcast vs. Print Difference

8. Personal Attacks and Political Editorials
PERSONAL ATTACK RULE
When an individual is the subject of an attack upon her honesty, character, integrity or like personal qualities, the licensee shall:
Notify the subject of the attack
Provide a tape or other accurate summary of the attack if tape is not available.
Offer a reasonable opportunity to respond over the licensee's station.

9. Personal Attacks and Political Editorials
When a broadcaster opposes a legally qualified candidate or endorses a candidate's opponent it must meet personal attack obligations. If broadcast is within 72 hours of election, notification must take place prior to broadcast.
Broadcast vs. Print Difference

10. Other Programming Regulation
Obscene, Indecent, and Profane Programming
-Indecency and the First Amendment
-No censorship
-Punishing Indecency
-Channeling Indecency “Safe Harbor” / v-chip
Children’s Television
-Children’s Educational Programming / 3 hours
-Limits on Commercials in Children’s Programming
-Product-Based Programming and Program-Length Commercials

11. Commercials -- FCC vs. FTC Formats Distorted or Staged News
Sponsorship ID, Station Contests, Lotteries
Formats
Distorted or Staged News
Single / dual party consent
Staging
Hoaxes and Fraud
-Hoaxes
-Fraud, sponsorship ID and Payola/Plugola

12. New Technologies Cable DBS Dish & DirecTV
National vs. Local Control / Franchise
Must Carry / Retransmission Consent
DBS Dish & DirecTV
Allocation of Satellite Space (ITU)
Local Into Local / Must Carry - Retransmission
MMDS, SMATV, Cellular, Internet

13. New Technologies MMDS, SMATV, Cellular, Internet
Spectrum sales / auctions
spectrum reallocation since 2000 to open space for mobile phones and data
AM Revitalization
HD Radio
Broadband
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