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
What is the FCC's 'Dual Network Rule'?
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).
What is the FCC's definition of 'broadcast indecency'?
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.
During what hours does the FCC's indecency prohibition apply to broadcast stations?
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.
What is the 'Fairness Doctrine' and why is it significant in FCC history?
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.
What is the FCC's 'Equal Time Rule' (Section 315) for political broadcasting?
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.
What is the FCC's 'lowest unit charge' rule for political advertising?
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.