Jun 07 Watch House Approves Increase in FCC Fines for Indecency The House of Representatives authorized the Federal Communications Commission to fine over-the-air television and radio broadcasters up to $325,000 for violating decency standards, a tenfold increase over previous penalties. President Bush is expected to sign the measure. Continue watching
May 04 U.S. Broadcast Industry By PBS News Hour On Christmas Eve 1906, Canadian inventor Reginald Fessenden conducted the first radio broadcast in history, sending a recording of Handel's Largo, Christian hymns and a "Merry Christmas" to United Fruit Co. boats in the Atlantic Ocean. Continue reading
Apr 14 FCC Warns Broadcasters to Identify Source of Video News Releases By PBS News Hour Responding to public criticism over government-sponsored videos, the Federal Communications Commission reminded broadcasters Wednesday that they must disclose the origins of material that their audiences are viewing. Continue reading
Mar 16 President Bush Names Kevin Martin to Head FCC By PBS News Hour President Bush on Wednesday promoted Kevin Martin, one of five commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission, to head the agency that has gained recent attention for its crackdown on broadcast indecency. Continue reading
Jan 21 FCC Chairman Michael Powell Resigns By PBS News Hour Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell, who oversaw the passage of controversial media ownership rules among other matters, announced Friday he will leave his post in March after holding the job for four years. Continue reading
Nov 24 Viacom to Pay Record $3.5 Million to Settle FcCC Indecency Cases Media giant Viacom Inc. agreed Tuesday to pay a record $3.5 million to settle dozens of federal investigations into alleged indecency on its TV and radio programs. Continue reading
Jun 24 Court Orders FCC to Review Media Ownership Rules A federal appeals court on Thursday ordered the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider its new media ownership rules, marking a victory for consumer advocacy groups that had opposed the ease in regulations. Continue reading
Mar 11 House Approves Tougher Broadcast Indecency Measures By Admin By a 391-22 vote, the House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation significantly raising fines for the airing of television and radio broadcasts deemed indecent. Continue reading
Dec 22 Regulators Approve News Corp.'s Takeover of DirecTV The Federal Communications Commission late Friday approved News Corp.'s $6.6 billion purchase of DirecTV, the nation's largest satellite television provider, a move critics say will lead to higher prices and less choices for consumers. Continue reading
Nov 25 White House, Congress Reach Compromise on FCC Rule Congress and the White House reached a compromise Monday night in an effort to avoid a presidential veto of a measure that would have rolled back a decision by the Federal Communications Commission to relax a key media ownership rule. Continue reading