FCC

Provision Wouldn’t Give FCC Broad Authority to Reregulate Cable

11/13/2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow today sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and the four Commissioners regarding recent press reports that the so-called “70/70” test in Section 612(g) of the Communications Act has been met and that the finding will be used to assert broad new authority to reregulate the cable industry.    » read more »

Legislation Would Prevent the Federal Communications Commission from Unilaterally Relaxing Media Concentration Rules and Requires a Focus on Preserving Local Community Programming and Diversity in Ownership

November 9, 2007 -- Washington, DC - In response to ongoing efforts at the FCC to push through rules that would enable large media conglomerates to concentrate their ownership of newspapers, radio and television stations in media markets, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joined legislation introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Trent Lott (R-MS), “The Media Ownership Act of 2    » read more »

November 9, 2007 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today expressed her concern over concentration of media ownership through consolidation of the media. The remarks were made during testimony delivered today at a hearing held by the Federal Communications Commission in Seattle.    » read more »

Joins Legislation to Promote Fair Ownership Rules

11/08/2007 -- WASHINGTON D.C. - Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) joined colleagues in introducing legislation today that would prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from ramming through new media-ownership rules. Kerry spoke at a hearing today about the dangers of media consolidation. The hearing was called after Kerry and other members of the Commerce Committee were informed that FCC chairman Kevin Martin would try to vote on new media-ownership rules in December of this year.    » read more »

10/31/2007 -- Dan Brenner, Senior Vice President for Law and Regulatory Policy:    » read more »

Transition Could Leave Some Rural Areas without Signal When Analog Broadcasting Terminates in February 2009

October 30, 2007 -- Washington, DC - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address the possibility of viewers losing television service during the shift from analog to new digital technology. In the early stages of the changeover some stations made technical decisions that would leave many viewers without service when the process is completed in February 2009.    » read more »

FCC Rule Changes Must First Assess and Address Minority Media Ownership

October 22, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent the following letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin, calling on him to launch an independent review panel to develop proposals to further promote media ownership diversity. According to press accounts, following an insufficient 30-day review, the FCC intends to modify existing ownership rules by allowing greater media market consolidation.    » read more »

Exemption will assist with rollout of broadband to rural communities

10/17/2007 -- In testimony today before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve an exemption that relieves small cable operators and low capacity cable systems from a mandatory broadcast signal dual carriage order that the FCC adopted in September.    » read more »

Seeks Restitution for customers whose telephone services were switched without permission

October 5, 2007 -- INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter has filed a lawsuit against a Merrillville business and its owners claiming customers were billed for telecommunication services without their knowledge or consent, a practice known as “slamming”. Buzz Telecom also operated as Business Options and replaced itself as the consumers’ chosen telephone service provider without prior permission. The lawsuit names the company’s owners, Kurtis and Keanan Kintzel.    » read more »

9/11/2007 -- NCTA President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow statement:

“I want to thank each member of the FCC for engaging so constructively and fairly with our industry. We are proud to provide a seamless digital transition for all of our customers.

In 2005, the cable industry made two public commitments. First, despite the fact that this is a broadcaster transition, we said we would join the effort to educate all Americans about the digital TV transition. Last week, we announced a $200 million consumer education campaign that started this month.    » read more »

Teamsters Union files comments on sale of Tribune Company

WASHINGTON, June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Teamsters Union filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the agency to make sure local and diverse views are protected before granting consent for the sale of the Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) and approving waivers of the Commission's cross-ownership rules.

The waivers are required for the company to continue operating its broadcast and newspaper operations in key media markets around the country.    » read more »

05 June 2007 -- A U.S. appeals court says rules that punish broadcasters for accidental use of profanity in live broadcasts may need to be rewritten.

The appeals court Monday told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider a 2006 indecency rule, which the court called arbitrary and capricious. The judges also said the rules might violate free speech rights.

Fox Broadcasting praised the ruling and said it should be up to viewers to determine which programs are appropriate for them and their families.    » read more »

The United Church of Christ and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition filed a petition on May 1 with the Federal Communications Commission asking it to deny license renewals for two Fox-owned TV stations in New York because the stations’ owner, Rupert Murdoch, also owns The New York Post.

The FCC’s cross-ownership rule expressly prohibits newspapers and TV stations from being owned by the same entity.    » read more »