CHAPTER 11
TEST ITEMS
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Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What specific constitutional phrase justifies broadcasting coming under congressional jurisdiction?
a. Economic necessity
b. Fair use
2. This standard, created by Congress, limits FCC discretion.
d. NOI
e. NPRM
3. The FCC functions in
a. primarily a judicial role, by deciding disputes between broadcasters.
b. primarily a legislative role, since it was created by Congress.
4. The president nominates __________ FCC commissioners, who serve for __________ years and
may be reappointed.
a. five, three
5. In terms of originating policy and handling applications and letters of complaint and comment from
d. completed by the commissioners.
e. completed by the commissioners with congressional approval.
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6. How does a rule differ from a regulation?
a. A rule becomes effective in 90 days, but a regulation becomes effective immediately.
7. Which statement best describes critics’ attitudes toward FCC commissioners?
a. They are highly qualified people who take their job very seriously.
b. Commissioners join the FCC with considerable telecommunications experience and are dedicated
8. FCC decisions involving station licenses
a. are not subject to appeal.
9. Before a would-be licensee can build a new broadcast facility he or she must first obtain a(n)
a. allotment license.
10. Which of the following qualifications is not required of someone applying for a broadcasting license?
d. U.S. citizenship
e. Good character
11. Which of the following methods does the FCC rely on to ensure that stations are operating in the
public interest?
a. Constant monitoring of station operations.
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12. Currently, broadcast licenses are awarded for __________ years for television and __________ years
for radio.
a. three, three
13. About 98 percent of all license-renewal applications are
d. mutually exclusive.
e. challenged by other broadcasters or public service groups.
14. Which of the following penalties is least used by the FCC?
a. Conditional renewal
d. FCC
e. federal
16. Provisions of the 1992 cable act amendments included
d. rules for FCC franchising of cable systems.
e. LPTV and TVRO provisions.
17. In 1997, the Supreme Court upheld the __________ provisions, finding that the protection of over-
the-air broadcasting was an important government interest.
a. retransmission consent
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18. EEO regulations and broadcast signal carriage rules apply to
a. DBS.
19. Why did Congress remove the ban on cable/telco cross-ownership in Telecommunications Act of
1996?
a. To allow cable to compete with telephone companies in spectrum auctions.
b. To allow the FCC to regulate OVSs as broadcast carriers.
20. Since 1980, many regulations have been abandoned in deregulatory moves, and those regulations
remaining are usually __________ regulations.
a. behavioral
b. business
21. The first set of substantive rules removed from the FCC’s books focused on
d. public television.
e. low-power television.
22. FCC deregulatory policy is based on the concept that __________, not the government, should decide
which new technologies survive in the marketplace.
a. broadcast station and cable system owners
23. The Federal Trade Commission settles most cases of alleged advertising deception through
a. consent orders.
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24. In press law, __________ concerns the right of news personnel to withhold the identity of news
sources and to refuse to surrender personal notes.
a. outtake law
25. All of the following are ways individuals or groups attempt to influence media regulatory policy
except
a. oversight hearings.
26. In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress maintained a national audience cap for commercial
television owners by raising it to __________ percent of the television homes in the country.
a. 24
27. Tax certificates and distress sales are two actions permitted by the FCC primarily to
a. allow owners of marginal stations to avoid bankruptcy.
True/False Questions
1. Because it is impossible to dictate regulatory details in specialized fields, Congress has long delegated
authority over complex areas such as power, labor, transportation, and finance to a series of
2. The FCC licenses radio and television stations to serve in the public interest, convenience, and
3. The FCC’s Media Bureau handles all domestic wireless telecommunications programs and policies.
5. In a “report and order,” the FCC issues a request for preliminary comment and research on a
6. Equal employment opportunity (EEO) requirements must be met for all broadcast stations and cable
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7. Few people who complain to the FCC about broadcast programs realize that their complaints may be
discarded because they ask the Commission to violate the First Amendment by censoring material
8. The relatively low use of FCC sanctions against stations reflects lenient FCC treatment of licensees.
60. In license transfers, the FCC issues a public notice of the application and grants it if, after 30 days, no
71. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 authorized a new provider for delivery of cable services –
12. Under the 1992 Cable Act, every three years broadcasters may request must carry on cable systems in
13. SMATV systems need franchises to operate and are subject to local access channel requirements.
Essay Questions
1. Describe the roles of FCC commissioners and staff in rule making.
2. As a potential FM radio station licensee, outline the steps you would take to get your license—from
finding a channel to going on the air.
3. In setting up a cable system, you have applied for a franchise. List the steps involved in this franchise
and what it will give you and, in return, what will be expected of you as a cable operator.
4. Since 1980 the FCC has modified or eliminated many broadcast and cable rules. List five pre-1980