FCC

February 25, 2008, Washington, DC – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today approved the transfer of control of DIRECTV to Liberty Media subject to conditions. The Commission concluded that, as conditioned, the public interest benefits of the transfer outweighed the potential harms and would be consistent with applicable Commission rules and policies.    » read more »

2/15/2008, WASHINGTON, D.C. – FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s continued use of incomplete data about cable prices paints a picture that is both deceptive and false because it omits critical information about the competitive marketplace, ignores the dramatic enhancements to video service over the last ten years and relies on outdated, flawed and much criticized methodology, National Cable & Telecommunications Association President & CEO (NCTA) Kyle McSlarrow said in a letter sent today to members of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.    » read more »

26 January 2008 -- The U.S. agency that regulates broadcasters has fined ABC television network affiliated stations nearly $1.5 million for indecency.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says a 2003 broadcast of a police drama, NYPD Blue, that showed multiple close-up views of a woman's nude buttocks was indecent because it depicted a sexual organ on a broadcast before 10:00 p.m.

The network argued unsuccessfully that buttocks are not a sexual organ.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (Dec. 18, 2007) – Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to allow top newspapers to own a broadcast station in the same media market. Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder and president of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, issued the following statement:    » read more »

Menendez, a strong advocate for diversity of voices in the media, is part of group vowing to seek legislation to overturn hasty ruling

December 19, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – Despite intense congressional pressure, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday ruled in a 3-2 partisan vote to allow consolidation of local media ownership in the nation’s largest cities. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has been a leader in requesting a postponement of the vote until the pressing issues of localism and diversity are fully discussed and addressed by the FCC.    » read more »

December 18, 2007 -- Washington, DC – “I am deeply disappointed by the FCC's decision to overturn longstanding media cross-ownership rules, and to do so with a grossly flawed and widely criticized process.

The FCC is now actively promoting industry consolidation, but it is not addressing serious questions about consumer choice and localism. The Commission acted without giving the public sufficient time to comment.

And the Commission completely disregarded the concerns of a bipartisan group of more than 25 Senators who urged a more deliberative approach.    » read more »

12/18/2007 -- WASHINGTON, December 18 – Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on today’s vote by the Federal Communications Commission to overturn a 32-year-old media cross-ownership ban and allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper:    » read more »

12/18/2007 -- WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) condemned Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin’s decision today to rush through a vote on media consolidation. The vote to relax the rules regarding cross media ownership of newspapers and radio stations passed by a 3-2 party line vote today. The FCC vote will allow media companies to further consolidate. Martin’s decision to the hold the vote ignores the expressed will of the Senate Commerce Committee. Sens.    » read more »

December 18, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) ruling to allow greater media consolidation across the country. This ruling will allow large media outlets to become larger, potentially cutting out small business, women and minority-owned firms.    » read more »

Date: 12/18/2007 -- Statement of NCTA President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow regarding today’s FCC Meeting:

“We are pleased that a majority of Commissioners again rejected a plan to consider a multicast must carry mandate. Consumers will be better served if we could all focus on getting ready for the digital broadcast transition instead of repeatedly having to reject stale ideas that would harm consumers, undermine the digital transition and violate the Constitution.    » read more »

Fights to ensure diversity in the marketplace, opposes hastily planned vote

12/14/2007 -- WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), pushed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin to delay a controversial vote planned for next Tuesday that would result in further consolidation of the media market.    » read more »

Investigate Minority and Women Media Ownership - or Place FCC Funding in Jeopardy

December 14, 2007 -- WASHINGTON D.C. - Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) asked Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin to delay a vote on media ownership until the FCC has followed the will of Congress and established a commission to look into minority and women media ownership. Kerry and Obama made clear that if Martin once again bucked the Congress, they would ask the Appropriations Committee to deny funding for implementation of the rule produced by the forced vote.    » read more »

12/11/2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) today requested that the FCC stay, pending judicial review, the portion of its November 13 order that prohibited the enforcement of existing exclusive access agreement between cable operators and owners of multiple dwelling units (MDUs).    » read more »

Bill would launch effort to promote media ownership diversity, hold FCC accountable

December 4, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement praising the Senate Commerce Committee’s passage of the Media Ownership Act of 2007 (S.2332), which Obama has cosponsored. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), would ensure openness and accountability in FCC media ownership rules and launch an independent review panel to recommend strategies to increase the representation of women and minorities in media ownership.    » read more »

11/20/2007 -- Continuing his historic commitment to expand broadband network access across California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced a $22 million grant award to the California Telehealth Network by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).    » read more »