Lecture Notes
Predecessor:
Radio Act of 1927
Radio Acts of 1910 & 12 – later gutted by pair of court decisions
Prior
control of broadcasting went through Commerce Department
Broadcasters
used airwaves; did not own them
Initial
reasons for control:
1) limited frequencies available
2) Fear of monopoly by huge corporations
3) Standarization
a) equipment
b) broadcast technique (technical apps.)
Trustee
Model of regulation:
1) Scarce spectrum
2) Influence and reach of signal
Roaring
20s, Calvin Coolidge and lack of control
1934
– FCC
1.
Stations licensed in the “public interest, convenience and necessity.”
a) purposely left vague
2.
Airwaves belong to the people; broadcasters only rent them.
Act
has been amended many times by Congress – most notably 1996 with sweeping changes
(Telecommunications
Act. of 1996)
Here’s
a few memorable ones that have shaped the lives of American:
1) 1941-complaints about lack
of education stations led to FM frequency band
2) 1946-Blue Book on radio performance
3) 1949-FAIRNESS DOCTRINE
4) 1960-Program Policy Statement
(for TV)
5) 1967-creation of Public Television
6) 1984-cable television regulated
– also loosened station ownership rules; updated in 1992
7) 1984-Abolished Fairness Doctrine
8) 1996-Telecommunication Act
– Sweeping re-regulation
a) Communication Decency
Act
Telecom Act of 1996
Summary
R-TV
Cleans
up much of language added since 1934
Relaxed
ownership rules for TV
Lifted
radio ownership rules
Amended
restrictions on foreign ownership of stations
Extended
licenses to eight years from three and made it easier to “re-up”
Changed
affiliation rules
Broadcasters
can own cable-TV firms
Waived
restrictions on control of R&TV in same market.
--Broadcasters still prohibited from owning newspapers in
same market--
FCC free to allocate “new spectrums” if it wants to, but doesn’t have
to
Failed to define “public interest”
Cable-TV
No restrictions on cost to consumer
Prohibits
local governments from regulating cable franchises
Telephone Services
Opened
competition further between Baby Bells
Clarified
equipment, technical and long distance regulations
Internet and On-line Services
Criminal
penalties for transmitting “objectionable material ”
Did not regulation spam
