THE PUBLIC AND BROADCASTING:
How to Get the Most Service from Your Local
Station
Revised April 2008
Prepared
by: The Media Bureau
Federal
Communications Commission
Washington,
D.C.
You can obtain a hard copy of “The Public
and Broadcasting” from your local broadcast station, or by calling the FCC
toll-free at 1-(888)-225-5322 (1-(888)-CALL
FCC) (Voice) or 1-(888)-835-5322
(1-(888)-TELL FCC) (TTY). This
document can also be found on the Commission’s website at: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/public_and_broadcasting.html. That
version will be updated periodically and will contain the most recent
revisions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE FCC AND ITS REGULATORY AUTHORITY
FCC Regulation of Broadcast Radio and Television
THE LICENSING OF TV AND RADIO STATIONS
Commercial and Noncommercial Educational Stations
Applications to Build New Stations; Length of the License
Period
Applications for License Renewal
Public Participation in the Licensing Process
BROADCAST PROGRAMMING: BASIC LAW AND POLICY
Criticism, Ridicule, and Humor Concerning Individuals,
Groups, and Institutions
BROADCAST PROGRAMMING: LAW AND POLICY ON
SPECIFIC KINDS OF PROGRAMMING
Political Broadcasting: Candidates for Public Office
Programming Inciting “Imminent Lawless Action.”
Obscene, Indecent, or Profane Programming
How to File an Obscenity, Indecency, or Profanity
Complaint
The V-Chip and TV Program Ratings
Other Broadcast Content Regulation
Children’s Television Programming
Broadcast of Telephone Conversations
ACCESS TO BROADCAST MATERIAL BY PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES
Access to Emergency Information
BUSINESS PRACTICES AND ADVERTISING
Business Practices, Advertising Rates, and Profits
Employment Discrimination and Equal Employment
Opportunity (“EEO”).
Underwriting Announcements on Noncommercial Educational
Stations
False or Misleading Advertising
Tobacco and Alcohol Advertising