October 2007

FCC EASES WAY FOR STATION SALES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]

FCC WON'T PROBE DISCLOSURE OF PHONE RECORDS
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Kaplan]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin turned down a congressional request to investigate reports that phone companies turned over customer records to the National Security Agency, citing national security concerns. At issue are reports last year that some big telephone companies allowed the U.S. government access to millions of telephone records for an anti-terrorism program.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0535834320071005

* House Telecom Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA)

FCC TO CONDUCT MORE WHITE SPACES TESTS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission will conduct another round of testing on unlicensed mobile wireless devices FCC Chairman Kevin Martin hopes to be able to authorize for use in the vacant channels, or so-called white spaces between digital-TV broadcast channels. The FCC doesn't want to waste any time conducting the new tests. It said Friday that anybody who wants a device tested should get it to its Office of Engineering and Technology ASAP.

FCC FINES STATIONS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The Federal Communications Commission issued one of its larger fines -- $10,000 -- against WFFT-TV Fort Wayne for failure to keep the proper records on its children's and public-interest programming. Also fined $4,000 was WSJV-TV Elkhart, Ind., for failing to file similar documents, but it was only missing two quarters' worth.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6487748.html?rssid=193