Talk:Federal Communications Commission

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[edit] 2003 to mid-2004 comments

Why are there references to a "classic episode" of Family Guy, along with poorly written lyrics on this page?

Wheres the part about it ruining television?

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.106.155.253 (talk) 00:28, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

Why no orgins of FCC being FRC? Started in 1927. That then morphed into the FCC with the Communication act of Mrsfgc

Original version of this article taken directly from FCC website, which is a public domain resource.

Why don't we make this a disambiguation page between the Federal communications commission and the Farm Credit Corporation? Ilyanep 15:36 19 Jun 2003 (UTC)

The section on regulatory powers is very POV, not to mention a horribly incomplete picture of everything the FCC does. Anyone else want to tackle this? Might be awhile before I could... Postdlf 1:30 4 Apr 2004 (EST)

i'm not really sure but isn't the FCC the one that makes sure no titties and people saying fuck are on american tv? why isn't there anything about that in the article?--62.251.90.73 17:53, 28 Jun 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Article for Channel 1

Can anyone create an article for Channel 1 saying "Televisions in the United States lack a channel 1 for some given reason?? 66.245.18.193 14:50, 21 Aug 2004 (UTC)

[edit] stuff on back of equipment

Maybe someone could explain the reason why most equipment has the following on the back: 1 This device may not cause harmfull interference 2 This device must accept any interference recieved, including interference that may cause undesired information

Especially part 2 209.197.155.94 22:14, 22 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Main article: Unintentional radiator

External link to Swiss site: see page 20 for basic stuff.

David Jordan

[edit] Overlap?

Did the FCC intend for there to be an overlap between TV station 6 and the lower end of the radio wave spectrum? If you see this poster, you'll see an overlap between TV station 6 and the lower end of the radio wave spectrum. Also, if you tune in to the lower end of the radio wave spectrum--I think it's eighty something point something else--you can get the sound from TV station 6 to come through your radio...just wonderred if the FCC intended that.

[edit] No Overlap

No ... North American TV channel 6 is 82-88 MHz, and the FM band is 88 to 108 MHz, with the lowest FM frequency (Channel 201) being 88.1 MHz, the next (202) being 88.3 MHz. The European FM range, used in most of the world, starts somewhere around 87.5 MHz, but in those countries, these frequencies are not used for TV, or any channel that reaches beyond 87.5 is not used in the same place as an FM station with the same frequency segment.

[edit] POV?

"Even so, many American families feel that the FCC is losing the battle against a media movement consisting of corporations aware that "liberal" individuals spend more money than "conservative" individuals. These corporations recognize that the entertainment industry is the best way to convince younger adults to become more liberal and, consequently, to consumer their products. The trick is to convince the targets without their knowledge. By promoting the opposition of anything traditional or authoritative (relative to rebellion against parental authority) the target audience sympathizes with the producers. In many cases, the audience may be supporting exactly what they are in opposition to. With young adults and children as the primary financial supporters of the entertainment industry, the FCC certainly has a difficult task ahead of it to address the concerns of the "family" structure. Many American families today are fearful of the extinction of the family unit due to the blatant promotion of concepts (e.g., homosexual marriage) in the mainstream media despite the fact that most Americans oppose such concepts. Claims of media bias have sprung from such concerns as it becomes more and more apparent that most media conglomerates appear to have an agenda."

This Whole paragraph seem to have a POV in it. for instance, "Claims of media bias have sprung from such concerns as it becomes more and more apparent that most media conglomerates appear to have an agenda." This sentence suggests that media conglomerates are biased with no evidence except their own POV. Or "Many American families today are fearful of the extinction of the family unit due to the blatant promotion of concepts (e.g., homosexual marriage) in the mainstream media despite the fact that most Americans oppose such concepts." Correct me if i am wrong but to me this A)makes it seem like the whole of America is homophobic which is not the case any more and B)imlies this writer thinks putting gay references on theair is a bad idea because America is against it.

Obscenity v. Indecency Janet Jackson was a fine based on the FCC's indecency power, not obscenity power. They have different legal meanings. (Obscenity is defined by Miller v. California, as being, when taken as a whole, a work created to appeal to the prurient interest, as defined by the contemporary community standards--like a pornographic movie; Indecency by FCC v. Pacifica, as reference to sexual and excretory organs--such as the word "fuck" or a exposure of gentalia, even though the whole piece is not an attempt to appeal to the prurient interest.)

[edit] Broadcast Flag debate

Where can we get good in depth analysis? John wesley 19:41, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What is the purpose of the FCC today?

Why do we Americans need the FCC to control what is broadcast on television and on radio? I don't understand its purpose today. Why does the government need to decide what is moral? Also, just because a television show or radio show is being broadcast, I am not forced to watch it or listen to it. Perhaps someone else can answer my questions. --J. Finkelstein 03:07, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

Some people, specifically legal moralists who believe that the purpose of government is to enfore the collective morals of the people, would disagree with you. They would state that it's the law ( and its beauraus)'s jobs to enforce our morals, and that's why the FCC is a necessary function. Unfortunately, these legal moralists seem to be in power, and so the FCC has its purpose of " defending morality and decency," or whatever else. 65.182.52.95 20:42, 19 November 2006 (UTC)
At least we still have the internet... or do we —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 209.244.43.3 (talk) 01:39, 2 May 2007 (UTC).
of course we do, for now. And cable, and satellite. The FCC is screwed, they have no real power outside of broadcast TV and Radio. Here's hoping it stays that way!!! TrevorLSciAct 15:19, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Media conglomeration

Shouldn't this article mention Michael Powell's attempt, in 2003, to push through media conglomeration (relaxed "broadcast cross-ownership" rules), and the defeat of this via unprecedentedly massive numbers of unfavorable public comments? And the recent revisiting of this via Docket 02-277? Badagnani 09:22, 25 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Criticisms section

I think the criticisms section could use a major re-writing and expansion. Anyone agree? Jesuschex 00:28, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Appointed, not elected

I removed the "appointed, not elected" language inserted at the beginning of the article with reference to the FCC as an independent agency. I guess maybe it's not obvious to everyone (but in my view it should be for any adult U.S. citizen) that members of an independent agency are "appointed, not elected." In the United States, we elect a President and the members of the House of Representative and Senate, and that's about it; everyone else is pretty much "appointed" or hired as an employee, etc. So the fact that FCC members are appointed and not elected is arguably pretty much unremarkable from the standpoint of an encyclopedia article. Referring to members of the FCC as "appointed, not elected" could be interpreted as non-neutral point of view (under the theory that "elected" is better than "appointed"). Maybe the article on independent agencies should include a reference to the fact that they are appointed if it doesn't already, as people outside the USA might or might not know that as common knowledge. Yours, Famspear 00:57, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Vandalism

We need someone to fix the page. It's been wiped out and reedirected to Big Brother. Funny stuff though. Smart194 00:56, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

How is that funny? It's true. Just read the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and you will see that the federal government is violating one of its most basic laws by creating the FCC.
That's ludicrous. The FCC doesn't do anything to violate the first amendment. They try to protect kids from obscenity. If those haters want to see sex so badly, they should go look for it on the internet. I think that whoever wants it on somewhere where some kids might come accross it is the stupid one. P.S. I saw a vandal where some goat replaced the FCC's official seal with a picture of a nipple. Sean90 03:00, 13 July 2007 (UTC)
Don't you think that that should be the responsibility of the PARENTS? We can't sterilize the entire world of "immorality"(which is completely subjective, BTW) just because some people can't properly parent their children.--68.149.181.145 05:26, 10 September 2007 (UTC)
Well, 68.149.181.145, the burden happens all day and parents don't have the enough time to protect their kids nowadays all the time, unfortunately. Sure, they can protect sometimes, but not all the time as I said earlier. I hope that clears it up. 71.116.41.201 20:17, 16 October 2007 (UTC)
Protect their kids from 'what', exactly? What's the big danger? If people stopped making a big fucking deal about nipples and harsh language, do you really think the world would come crashing down? We would serve our children better not by protecting them more, not by sheltering them from the things we are afraid of, but by teaching them some perspective. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.239.189.144 (talk) 07:04, 22 November 2007 (UTC)
The FCC is the type of thing that belongs in Britain or Oceania, not the U.S. This authoritarian branch of the government violates our basic rights of freedom. By the way, swear words are not obscene. They are just words, and children hear them all the time, anyway.

[edit] Sources?

Does this article correctly cite sources based on Wiki Standards? I see little to no sources cited on where particular information was obtained. 208.106.1.45 23:44, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

The "Organization" section info probably was taken directly from the FCC website (not a copyright violation, since this is a government agency). As for the other sections, I'm sure they could be improved by adding references. That, of course, is true of virtually all of the articles in Wikipedia; in the first couple of years, the focus was on adding information, with much less concern for citing where it came from. Feel free to help us add sources (see WP:CITE and WP:RS). -- John Broughton (♫♫) 15:21, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Face-centred cubic structure

FCC abbreviation should disambiguate to Face-centre cubic structure of crystals. See cubic crystal system Telewatho 21:14, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

You'll find that disambiguation at FCC (disambiguation). As for whether "FCC" is more commonly understood to mean "Federal Trade Commission" or a cubic structure (in case you're saying that FCC should redirect to the cubic structure rather than this article), may I suggest that you do some Google searches, and, if you still feel the same after doing so, report back here with your results? -- John Broughton (♫♫) 18:24, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Critisism neutrality.

The Critisism part has a very subjective wiew on a few parts, notably on the "Fact" abpout the Afganistan Marine. I'll add a neutality disputed template. Take it down when the part is fixed. Arctic-Editor 17:51, 14 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] No list of Decency Standards?

Does anyone else find it appalling that given the FCCs recent crack down on "indecency" you cant even find a list of what you cant say or do on public airwaves. Hell, its not even real clear on rather or not the FCC controls privatized broadcast such as cable as satellite (they dont right?). I googled around to no avail, if anyone knows of such a list please include it in the article. 68.226.119.201 08:58, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

It is better this way until we can fight them into the ground in court. I really hope a network manages to do this eventually. Go into a Highschool, a bar, or any public area really--if you recorded what people were saying and broadcasted it on the air, it would be deemed illegal. This is a clear violation of the 1st amendment. Maybe it is a little offensive to a few people, but you can't suppress what society really is. TrevorLSciAct 15:23, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Robert E. Lee (R-IL)?

Robert E. Lee (R-IL)? What the hell is he doing on a list of FCC commissioners? He died 64 years before the FCC was formed... or so I thought. Whoever put him up, or someone knows whether or not a different RE Lee was commissioner, should fix that oddity. I checked the history, and I'm going to point the finger at Thething88. Perhaps Robert E. Lee isn't the only weird one on his list?? --Ender216 05:36, 11 May 2007 (UTC)

Robert E. Lee (FCC) was appointed to the FCC by Dwight D. Eisenhower and served on the FCC almost 28 years (1953-1981), including serving as Chairman for a short time. His papers were deposited in the Eisenhower Library in 1998 by his widow. -- DS1953 talk 06:02, 11 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] FCC

Is this really the most common usage of FCC? Simply south 20:36, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

Uhhh... yeah. >_>--71.203.147.175 22:34, 2 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Questions

What is the status of the 200 radio stations that were frozen? Are others now frozen? [1] Also, what is the status of the investigation into FCC reports which had previously been shelved? [2] Is it noteworthy or significant that Clear Channel has agreed to be bought? [3][4] Brian Pearson 14:09, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Pain, Volume 5?

Does anyone know why the FCC banned The Pain, When Will It End?, Volume 5? 82.139.85.240 13:32, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

Ummm... what the hell are you talking about??? ?_?--71.203.147.175 16:41, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

The FCC doesn't ban books. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.139.148.100 (talk) 17:36, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Very important: media conglomeration

The article should mention Michael Powell's attempt, in 2003, to push through media conglomeration (relaxed "broadcast cross-ownership" rules), and the defeat of this via unprecedentedly massive numbers of unfavorable public comments, as well as the more recent revisiting of this via Docket 02-277?[5] It should also mention the October 2007 attempt to allow media conglomerates to own a newspaper and radio station in the same city. Badagnani 01:31, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

No one is maintaining this article, are they? The FCC has just scheduled an October 31, 2007 meeting about its proposed relaxation of the media conglomeration rules, giving only 5 days' notice.[6] —Preceding unsigned comment added by Badagnani (talk • contribs) 00:42, 29 October 2007 (UTC)

I agree, the matter of media consolidation could be addressed further in the this article under Criticism, though I think that section needs some cleaning up (specifically, shaping the Family Guy and Studio 60 parts into "critical portrayal" or something). Do you know of links to groups that specifically speak out against media consolidation and reference the FCC? Moogle001 21:36, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

There are several. This is one: [7]. Here is another: [8]. Here are some more: [9] [10] [11]. Here is an interview with two FCC commissioners. Badagnani 21:22, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

Still no mention of this in the article? The chairman is now attempting to push through similar rule changes, despite overwhelming opposition at the recent public meetings.[12] This should be noted in the article. Badagnani 09:24, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

This really needs to be addressed in the article. Badagnani (talk) 19:09, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How were quality standards violated?

Whoever put up the tag to ask to improve the article, please explain why. - Desmond Hobson (talk) 17:17, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Free speech and the internet

I made a few minor edits. Although the FCC does not have general regulatory powers over the internet, a few U.S. government agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) do have limited, indirect regulatory authority over various kinds of false or misleading statements made in their respective regulatory fields of investments, trade, commerce, etc., whether made on the internet or not. (Of course, the SEC and FTC do not regulate the internet in general.) Famspear (talk) 20:37, 30 April 2008 (UTC)