FCC FCC Media Ownership and Indecency Rules

Question 1

What is the FCC's 'Dual Network Rule'?

Accepted Answer

A rule prohibiting a merger between any two of the top four national broadcast television networks

Answer

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'?

Accepted 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

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

6 AM to 10 PM — the 'safe harbor' period when children are likely to be in the audience

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

A former FCC policy requiring broadcasters to present controversial public issues in a balanced way, eliminated by the FCC in 1987

Answer

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?

Accepted 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

Answer

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.

FCC - Federal Communications Commission Practice Test

FCC - Federal Communications Commission Practice Test

FCC FCC Media Ownership and Indecency Rules