FCC FCC Media Ownership and Indecency Rules 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the FCC's 'Dual Network Rule'?
- A rule prohibiting a merger between any two of the top four national broadcast television networks (Correct answer)
- A rule requiring each broadcaster to operate two separate networks
- A rule limiting cable operators to carrying no more than two broadcast networks
- A rule requiring each broadcast network to air content on at least two platforms
Correct answer: A rule prohibiting a merger between any two of the top four national broadcast television networks
The FCC's Dual Network Rule prohibits any single entity from merging or combining two of the top four national broadcast TV networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC).
Question 2: What is the FCC's definition of 'broadcast indecency'?
- Language or material that, in context, depicts or describes sexual or excretory organs or activities in a patently offensive way as measured by contemporary community standards (Correct answer)
- Any profanity or obscenity aired on television or radio
- Any content not suitable for viewers under 18 years of age
- Violence, nudity, or adult themes aired before 10 PM
Correct answer: Language or material that, in context, depicts or describes sexual or excretory organs or activities in a patently offensive way as measured by contemporary community standards
The FCC defines broadcast indecency as language or material that describes or depicts sexual or excretory activities in a manner deemed patently offensive by contemporary community standards for broadcast media.
Question 3: During what hours does the FCC's indecency prohibition apply to broadcast stations?
- 6 AM to 10 PM — the 'safe harbor' period when children are likely to be in the audience (Correct answer)
- All 24 hours of the day for all broadcast content
- Only during children's television programming hours
- Only during primetime hours of 8 PM to 11 PM
Correct answer: 6 AM to 10 PM — the 'safe harbor' period when children are likely to be in the audience
The FCC's indecency rules prohibit indecent content on broadcast stations between 6 AM and 10 PM; the 10 PM to 6 AM period is a 'safe harbor' during which indecent (though not obscene) content may be aired.
Question 4: What is the 'Fairness Doctrine' and why is it significant in FCC history?
- A former FCC policy requiring broadcasters to present controversial public issues in a balanced way, eliminated by the FCC in 1987 (Correct answer)
- A current FCC rule requiring equal time for all political candidates
- An FCC rule requiring equal news coverage of all major political parties
- A doctrine requiring fair pricing for broadcast advertising
Correct answer: A former FCC policy requiring broadcasters to present controversial public issues in a balanced way, eliminated by the FCC in 1987
The Fairness Doctrine was an FCC policy from 1949 to 1987 requiring broadcast licensees to cover controversial public issues and present contrasting viewpoints; the FCC abolished it in 1987 citing First Amendment concerns.
Question 5: What is the FCC's 'Equal Time Rule' (Section 315) for political broadcasting?
- Broadcast stations must give equal opportunity to legally qualified candidates for the same office if they give or sell time to any one candidate (Correct answer)
- All broadcast time given to politicians must be free of charge
- Broadcast stations must dedicate equal hours to all registered political parties
- Stations must provide equal coverage to third-party and major party candidates
Correct answer: Broadcast stations must give equal opportunity to legally qualified candidates for the same office if they give or sell time to any one candidate
Section 315 requires broadcast stations that sell or give airtime to a legally qualified political candidate to offer equal time to all other legally qualified candidates for the same office.
Question 6: What is the FCC's 'lowest unit charge' rule for political advertising?
- Broadcast stations must sell political advertising to candidates at the lowest rate charged to any commercial advertiser for the same time slot (Correct answer)
- All political advertising must be priced at a fixed FCC-determined rate
- Political ads must be sold at a discount of at least 50% compared to commercial advertising
- Broadcast stations must provide political advertising time free of charge during election seasons
Correct answer: Broadcast stations must sell political advertising to candidates at the lowest rate charged to any commercial advertiser for the same time slot
The FCC's lowest unit charge rule requires broadcast stations to sell advertising to political candidates at the lowest rate offered to commercial advertisers for the same time period during the 45 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election.
FCC FCC Media Ownership and Indecency Rules 1
What is the FCC's 'Dual Network Rule'?