Communications 300 Lesson 9

Broadcasting receives the most limited First Amendment protection among all forms of communication. This is because broadcasting operates on limited frequencies and is subject to government regulation and licensing. The government has the authority to impose content restrictions and regulations on broadcasting to ensure that it serves the public interest. This limited protection is in contrast to print, cable, and internet communication, which enjoy greater freedom of expression and are subject to fewer government restrictions.

Diverse ownership of broadcast stations leads to diverse viewpoints in programming. When different individuals or groups own broadcast stations, they bring their unique perspectives and ideas, resulting in a wider range of content and opinions being represented. This diversity in programming ensures that audiences have access to a variety of perspectives, fostering a more inclusive media landscape. It also promotes freedom of expression and encourages dialogue and understanding among different communities.

The Supreme Court in Turner Broadcasting held that governmental regulations directed towards the content of cable television programming must pass the strict scrutiny test. This means that the regulations must serve a compelling government interest and be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. The strict scrutiny test is the highest level of scrutiny applied by the courts and is used to determine the constitutionality of laws that potentially infringe upon fundamental rights or discriminate against certain groups.

Broadcast licensees are not considered to be the owners of the broadcast spectrum. Instead, the broadcast spectrum is considered a public resource that is managed and regulated by the government. Broadcast licensees are granted the right to use a portion of the spectrum for broadcasting purposes, but they do not own it. This is why they are considered trustees of the spectrum, responsible for using it in the public interest. Broadcasting is regulated due to its pervasive nature and potential impact on children, not because licensees own the spectrum.

The Children's Television Act applies to both broadcast and cable systems, meaning that the programming requirements outlined in the act must be followed by both types of platforms. This ensures that children's television programming meets certain standards and provides educational and informative content.

The FCC has the authority to establish rules regarding the relationship between networks and their affiliates. This means that the FCC can regulate and dictate the terms and conditions under which networks and their affiliates operate. This ensures that there is a level of control and standardization in the broadcasting industry, allowing for fair practices and the protection of consumers.

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The equal opportunities requirement aims to ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities for all candidates in an election. In this scenario, a candidate's appearance on a cooking show could trigger the equal opportunities requirement because it provides an opportunity for the candidate to reach a wide audience and potentially gain an advantage over other candidates who may not have similar opportunities for exposure. This requirement ensures that all candidates have an equal chance to present their views and engage with voters, regardless of the platform or show they appear on.

The statement is false because the station is not required to grant equal opportunity to the Democratic candidate for governor. Section 315 of the Communications Act only requires equal opportunity to be given to opposing candidates in the same election, which in this case is the Republican opposition in the primary election.

The statement "Constitutional First Amendment standards are the same for all mass media" is false because different forms of mass media are subject to different regulations and restrictions under the First Amendment. For example, broadcast television and radio are subject to stricter regulations due to their use of public airwaves, while print media and the internet have more freedom of expression. Therefore, the standards for free speech and expression vary across different mass media platforms.

The statement "Obscene material is allowed on the Internet" is false. Obscene material is not allowed on the Internet as it violates various laws and regulations related to obscenity, child pornography, and harmful content. Governments and internet service providers (ISPs) have implemented measures to restrict and block access to such material in order to maintain a safe and legal online environment.

The statement that is false is "The FCC must make regulations for radio that are in the 'public interest, convenience, or necessity,' but there is a different standard for television, cable, and new technologies." This is incorrect because the FCC applies the same standard of "public interest, convenience, or necessity" to all forms of communication, including radio, television, cable, and new technologies.

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The statement that is false is "If a city has granted a license to a cable company to operate in its jurisdiction, the city cannot then run its own cable service." This statement is incorrect because a city can grant a license to a cable company and still operate its own cable service if it chooses to do so.

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The correct answer is that the public interest means whatever the FCC says it means, at any given time. This means that the FCC has the authority to interpret and define what is in the public interest based on their own judgement and discretion. The concept of the public interest is not fixed or standardized, but rather subject to the FCC's interpretation and can change over time.

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The statement that is false is "Limits on ownership of radio stations relate to national percentage of radio households reached." This statement is incorrect because there are indeed limits on ownership of radio stations that are based on the national percentage of radio households reached. These limits are imposed by regulatory bodies to prevent monopolies and ensure diversity in media ownership.

When an FCC administrative law judge makes a decision, the parties involved have the right to appeal that decision. The appeal is made to a federal circuit court, which is the next level of review for FCC decisions. This means that if a party is dissatisfied with the judge's opinion, they can seek a review of the decision in a higher court.

The correct answer states that the decade in which the number of cable subscribers skyrocketed was between 1975 and 1985. This means that during this specific period, there was a significant increase in the number of people subscribing to cable television services.