Archive

This page is part of Benton Foundation's online archive. We've kept some old stuff around for historical purposes.

Regulating Television

Regulating television

Benton views free, over-the-air broadcast television as an important information service, crucial to an informed democracy, and a vital part of the NII. Benton educates the public about what's at stake and aims to include citizens and noncommercial interests in the debate on the future of television.

Children's educational television
Free air time for candidates
Digital television
Video access and disability
Broadcast ownership and license renewal
Cable television
Open video systems

New rules on children's educational television

Benton's summary of the FCC's New Children's TV Rules (9/96) (13 page document)

FCC Adopts New Children's TV Rules (FCC 96-335). News Release includes separate statements issued by Chairman Hundt and Commissioners Quello, Ness and Chong.
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version | News Release ] (8/9/96) (94 page document)

New rules on broadcasters providing free air time for political candidates

FCC Clears the Way for Network Proposals to Provide Time to Presidential Candidates. (8/23/96)

Benton's comments on Broadcaster Proposals to Provide Time To Presidential Candidates (7/11/96)

FCC Seeks Comments on Free Time for Presidential Candidates(5/16/96)

Proceedings on the transition to digital television

Current Proceeding Commission Adopts Rules for Digital Television Service. Separate Statements issued by Chairman Hundt and Commissioners Quello, Ness and Chong. 4/4/97

Commission Adopts Table of Allotments for DTV: Establishes Policies and Rules. Separate Statements issued by Chairman Hundt and Commissioners Quello, Ness and Chong. 4/4/97

Benton files supporting comments in call to define television broadcasters' public interest obligations. (Filed 1/24/97)

Support intiative to define broadcasters' public interest obligations (12/3/96)

FCC adopts Digital TV Standard. (MM Dkt 87-268)
[ News Release | Text Version | Word Perfect Version ] (12/27/96)

Statements regarding DTV Fourth Report and Order and Adoption of DTV Standard.
[ Commissioner Ness | Commissioner Chong ] (12/26/96)

Broadcast, consumer electronics, and computer industries reach compromise on Digital Television technical standards. FCC requests comments on the proposal. (12/3/96)

Benton's Latest Comments on the Transition to Digital Television: Includes call for proceeding to define broadcasters' public interest obligations (Comments filed 11/22/96)

See Benton's summary of the proceeding with recommendations for policy action by public interest advocates. (9/96)

FCC releases Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Advanced TV Systems & their Impact upon the Existing TV Broadcast Service.
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version | Other Formats & Additional Information ] Comments due November 22, 1996. Reply Comments due December 23, 1996. (8/14/96)

Past proceedings Benton's comments on the Fifth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Advanced TV Systems & their Impact upon the Existing TV Broadcast Service: Digital Television Technical Standards. Includes Benton's call for NPRM on setting television public interest standards.(7/11/96)

Benton's comments on the Fourth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Advanced Television Systems & their Impact upon the Existing TV Broadcast Service: Spectrum Allocation. Reply comments in FCC Mass Media Bureau Docket #87-268 that incorporate the opinions and filings of broadcasters, manufacturers, industry representatives, and public interest advocates. (2/96)

Video accessibility for persons with disabilities Section 713 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 aims to ensure that video services are accessible to individuals with hearing and speech disabilities. It requires the FCC to study the level at which video programming is closed captioned, and then to establish a timetable for closed captioning requirements. (The FCC is authorized to exempt programming for which the provision of closed captioning would be economically burdensome.) Section 713 also directs the FCC to study the use of video description in order to assure the accessibility of this service to persons with visual impairments.
Closed Captioning Web
Current proceeding FCC releases Notice Of Inquiry and Statement from Chairman Hundt on Access to Telecommunications Services By Persons with Disabilities (WT Docket 96-198, FCC 96-382). 9/20/96
FCC Report in the Matter of Closed Captioning and Video Description of Video Programming MM Docket No. 95-176 Implementation of Section 305 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. (7/25/96)
Closed Captioning and Video Description of Video Programming
MM Docket No. 95-176 (12/1/96)

New rules on broadcast ownership and license renewal

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allows owners to purchase more stations even within the same market, allows TV and radio cross-ownership, allows broadcast and cable cross-ownership, and allows existing networks to begin new affiliate networks. Although the intent of the Act may be to encourage greater competition, the same mechanisms that encourage competition also allow large media conglomerates to enjoy economies of scale and scope. Under some scenarios, this may result in a small handful of large corporations controlling the medium a household receives its video programming from -- no matter which medium the family may choose.

Broadcasters may also receive licenses with longer durations and relaxed renewal processes. Hence, the owner would have more confidence in the stability of the license and will have a more solid business plan when seeking capital. In a May 1996 joint filing to the FCC, the Center for Media Education and the Media Access Project argued that "[t]he public interest will be harmed by an increase in license terms unless there are corresponding requirements to insure that broadcasters meet their public interest trustee obligations." The groups argue that the FCC should better define a broadcaster's obligation to air children's educational television and locally originated programming.

The Commission is seeking comment on a number of issues relating to the National Broadcast Television Multiple Ownership Rule and has issued three Notices of Proposed Rulemakings:
FCC 96-436 [ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]
FCC 96-437 [ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ] and
FCC 96-438 [ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ]. Order on Implementation of Section 204(a) and 204 (c) of Telecommunications Act of 1996, Broadcast License Renewal Procedures.
[ Text Version | WordPerfect Version ] (4/12/96)

FCC implements Section 202(c)(1) and 202 (e) of Telecommunications Act of 1996 National Broadcast Television Ownership and Dual Networking Provisions
[ News Release | Text Version | WordPerfect Version ] (3/8/96)

Regulating cable television

Supreme Court rules that cable systems must carry local broadcast stations. (3/31/97)

Past proceedings Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Implementation of Cable Act Reform Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 CS Docket No. 96-85. (4/5/96)
[ Text Version| Wordperfect Version ]

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Implement Section 302 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 Open Video Systems, Telphone Company-Cable Television Cross Ownership Rules (3/11/96)
[ News Releases | Text Version| Wordperfect Version ]

Implementation of Section 505 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Scrambling of Explicit Adult Video Service Programming (CS Docket No. 96-40)
[ News Releases | Text Version| Wordperfect Version ] (3/4/96)
Update! Commission will not enforce or implement Section 505 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 "Scrambling of Sexually Explicit Adult Video Service Programming" as result of court order. [ Public Notice ] (3/13/96)

Video platforms: open video systems

Current ruling FCC adopts Final Open Video System Rules Enhancing Competition in the Video Marketplace (FCC 96-334).
[Text Version| WordPerfect Version] (8/9/96)
Second Report and Order Concerning Open Video Systems (5/31/96)

Past proceedings Open Video System Comments Available from Cable Services Bureau (8/22/96)

FCC Requests Proposed Text for Rules Re: Implementation of Local Competition and Local Exchange Carrier Provision of Video Programming Services. (3/13/96)

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Implement Section 302 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 Open Video Systems, Telephone Company-Cable Television Cross Ownership Rules
[ Text Version | Wordperfect Version] (3/11/96)

Allocation of Costs Associated with Local Exchange Carrier Provision of Video Programming Services. FCC 96-214 NPRM
[ News Release | Text Version | WordPerfect Version ] (5/10/96)

www.benton.org/Policy/Regulation/tvreg.html
Last updated: 7 April 1997 kjt