Electronic Media Regulation:

1
Electronic Media Regulation Broadcast and Cable
2
Broadcast Essential Cases and Laws
Meredith Corp. v. FCC
809 F. 2nd. 863 (1987) N.B.C. v. United States
319 U.S. 190 Red
Lion Broadcasting v. FCC 395 U.S.
367 (1969) Radio Act of 1927 Communications Act
of 1934 Telecommunications Act of 1996
3
Titanic The call for radio regulation
4
Radio Act of 1927 Communication Act of
1934
1.Broadcasting is a unique medium not a common
carrier 2. Spectrum Use, but not the ownership
thereof Public Interest, Convenience, and
Necessity (PICON) 3. Equitable Distribution 4.
Federal power to regulate is discretionary, not
absolute 5. F.R.C. (1927)
F.C.C. (1934)
5
Issues in Broadcast Regulation
1. Networks/Affiliates (NBC v. US) 2. Licensing
Brinkley
v. FCC Metro v. FCC 3.
Ownership 4. First Amendment
Fairness Doctrine Red Lion,Meredith
Section 315 (Equal Time)
Section 312 (a) (7) Reasonable Time
Indecency
6
Broadcast Indecency
1. Filthy Words Pacifica v. FCC 438 U.S. 726
(1978) 2. The safe harbor (or How to get
around Section 326) Howard Stern
KUSC-FM
The Jerker
and KPFK (Pacifica)
7
Cable Television Policy
CATV/Cable as TV retransmission (1965 -- FCC
authority over cable programming) Cable
Communications Policy Act of 1984 Cable
Television Consumer Protection and Competition
Act of 1992 Telecommunications Act of 1996