Mass Comm Bachelor of Communication Media Law and Policy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency has primary regulatory authority over broadcast television and radio in the United States?
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Department of Commerce
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (Correct answer)
- National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
Correct answer: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The FCC is an independent U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.
Question 2: The FCC's broadcast indecency regulations apply primarily to:
- All media platforms, including print, online, and streaming services
- Only cable and satellite television channels
- Broadcast television and radio during hours when children are likely in the audience (Correct answer)
- Streaming platforms like Netflix that reach large audiences
Correct answer: Broadcast television and radio during hours when children are likely in the audience
FCC indecency regulations apply specifically to over-the-air broadcast TV and radio, enforcing standards during 'safe harbor' hours when children may be watching (typically 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
Question 3: Under U.S. copyright law, how long does protection last for a work created by an individual author after January 1, 1978?
- 28 years, with one renewal period
- 50 years after the date of creation
- The author's lifetime plus 70 years (Correct answer)
- 95 years from the date of first publication
Correct answer: The author's lifetime plus 70 years
Under the Copyright Act of 1976 as amended by the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, copyright for individual authors lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT one of the four factors courts consider in a fair use analysis?
- The purpose and character of the use (commercial vs. educational)
- The nature of the copyrighted work
- The profit motive of the original copyright holder (Correct answer)
- The effect of the use upon the market for the original work
Correct answer: The profit motive of the original copyright holder
The four statutory fair use factors are: purpose and character of the use, nature of the copyrighted work, amount of the work used, and market effect — the original holder's profit motive is not a factor.
Question 5: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was enacted primarily to:
- Protect journalists' confidential sources from government subpoenas
- Give the public and press the right to access records from federal government agencies (Correct answer)
- Regulate how media companies collect and store personal user data
- Require broadcast licensees to cover government proceedings
Correct answer: Give the public and press the right to access records from federal government agencies
FOIA, enacted in 1966, establishes the public's right to request access to records from any federal agency, promoting government transparency and accountability.
Question 6: The now-abolished Fairness Doctrine required FCC-licensed broadcasters to:
- Dedicate equal airtime to political candidates during elections
- Present contrasting viewpoints on controversial public issues (Correct answer)
- Refuse advertising from politically controversial organizations
- Broadcast a minimum number of hours of public affairs programming weekly
Correct answer: Present contrasting viewpoints on controversial public issues
The Fairness Doctrine required FCC-licensed broadcasters to air contrasting viewpoints on controversial public matters; it was controversial and abolished by the FCC in 1987.
Question 7: A 'shield law' in journalism law refers to a statute that:
- Protects journalists and news organizations from defamation lawsuits for accurate reporting
- Protects journalists from being compelled to reveal confidential sources or unpublished information in legal proceedings (Correct answer)
- Grants federal immunity to news organizations from government surveillance and data collection
- Provides legal protection for journalists working in war zones or dangerous environments
Correct answer: Protects journalists from being compelled to reveal confidential sources or unpublished information in legal proceedings
Shield laws are statutes, enacted in many U.S. states, that protect journalists from being forced to disclose confidential sources and notes in court proceedings.
Mass Comm Bachelor of Communication Media Law and Policy 2
Which federal agency has primary regulatory authority over broadcast television and radio in the United States?