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FCC Media Ownership and Indecency Rules Flashcards

6 cards from real FCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 FCC Media Ownership and Indecency Rules flashcards as text

  1. Under what circumstances can the FCC revoke a broadcast license?

    Answer: When a licensee demonstrates a pattern of abuse, makes misrepresentations to the FCC, or violates the Communications Act or FCC rules seriously

    The FCC can revoke a broadcast license for serious violations of the Communications Act or FCC rules, including misrepresentation to the FCC, character issues, or a pattern of abuse of the public trust.

  2. What is the FCC's 'public inspection file' requirement for broadcast stations?

    Answer: Stations must maintain a file of key documents — including licenses, political advertising records, and ownership information — available for public inspection online

    FCC rules require broadcast stations to maintain a public inspection file containing documents such as their license, political advertising records, ownership reports, and issues/programs lists, accessible to the public online via the FCC's database.

  3. What is the FCC's 'foreign ownership' limit for broadcast station licenses?

    Answer: No more than 20% direct foreign ownership and 25% indirect foreign ownership (through a holding company) is generally permitted

    The Communications Act limits direct foreign ownership of broadcast licenses to 20% and indirect foreign ownership (through a parent company) to 25%, though the FCC has discretion to approve higher levels in some cases.

  4. What is the FCC's 'localism' policy in broadcasting?

    Answer: A policy encouraging broadcast stations to serve the specific needs and interests of their local communities through local programming and community engagement

    The FCC's localism policy reflects a longstanding philosophy that broadcast stations, as users of public spectrum, have an obligation to serve the specific needs and interests of their local communities.

  5. What is the FCC's 'enhanced disclosure' requirement for broadcast stations regarding programming?

    Answer: TV stations must publish quarterly reports online detailing local programming and community issues covered

    The FCC requires broadcast TV stations to file quarterly reports in their online public files detailing local programming and the issues of community concern they have addressed.

  6. What protections does the FCC provide regarding political candidate 'censorship' on broadcast stations?

    Answer: Stations cannot censor the content of legally qualified candidate appearances under the equal time rule, but this also means stations cannot be held liable for such content

    Under Section 315, broadcast stations cannot censor the content of appearances by legally qualified candidates; as a trade-off, stations are also not liable for the content of those candidate appearances.