Abstract
This essay is largely an argument that the new FCC standards on indecency in the media are increasingly contradictory and do not take into account the shift of social norms in modern America. A large part of this argument is furthered by showing how television reflects the changes in cultural perspectives and that these changes, though do need to be regulated at times, should be able to present themselves. These points are proven with examples such as Family Guy and similar shows. In the end, the writer presents a brief series of recommendations for the FCC.

Outline:
FCC indecency enforcement proceedings and the First Amendment
Pros and Cons of the Current Policy
Recommendations for a New Policy

From the Paper
"One of the greatest failures of the current policy is the manner in which obscenity violations are measured. The seemingly arbitrary ways that the FCC comes to identify violations which may be subjected to enormous fines illustrate the danger of moral prejudice. For instance, the undue influence of such moral watchdog groups as the Parents Television Council (PTC), who stimulate campaigns against specific targets may tend to impose FCC fines with an imbalance against those who run afoul of the particular group's values system. A recent example is the Fox Network's primetime animated series, The Family Guy, which is known for its edgy and sometimes obscene humor. The PTC's particular attention to an episode with explicit reference to homosexuality demonstrates the danger of the FCC's agenda. Indeed, 'first-quarter complaints to the FCC in all categories increased by 246% over fourth-quarter 2008 to 245,241, the FCC said Tuesday, but that was driven by a whopping increase in indecency complaints in March.' (Eggerton, 1)
"Further research reveals this to have been the result of a specific campaign designed to stimulate the submission of pre-filled complaint forms against the episode in question. Accordingly, research illustrates that "a PTC viewer action alert crusade against a March 8 episode of the animated comedy show the PTC just loves to hate, Fox TV's Family Guy." (Lasar, 1) This demonstrates the use of deeply suspect numerical assumptions in order to enforce FCC fines. The enormity of such fines is particularly incongruous when one considers the misimpression driving FCC policies. With the federal agency acting according to that which it perceives as the will of the people based on the frequency of complaints, it has truly attached a decision impacting countless viewers to the actions and values systems of specific action groups.
"This pattern of complaint increase surrounding events which have raised the hackles of moral watchdog groups is also revealed to be not just deeply biased but also empirically unreliable. So would this be demonstrated in the wake of the Jackson/Timberlake incident."

Tags:media, fcc, standards, television

Abstract
This paper explains that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
is created, directed and empowered by the Congressional statute and is answerable only to the United States Congress; its responsibility is regulating the radio spectrum for the non-governmental use of radio and television broadcasting and all forms of telecommunication such as wireless, satellite, cable and the internet. The author points out that the FCC is criticized for being both too restrictive and permissive causing several hardships to the general public and to the service providers such as delaying the licensing of new projects thereby making the use of new technologies risky. The paper relates that a positive role played by the agency is safe guarding the societal interests controlling the use of electromagnetic waves, popularly known as radio spectrum, which have emerged as one of important secondary needs of the human society along with electricity and the motorcar.

Table of Contents
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Critical Analysis of the Functioning of FCC
Positive Aspects of FCC
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The commission is governed by a group of five commissioners appointed by the President of the United States and approved by the senate for a five-year term. One of the commissioners, nominated by the President officiates as the Chirman of the commission. Ten staff Offices and six operating Bureaus under the overall supervision of the office of the Managing Director, assist the commissioners in executing the responsibilities like processing of applications for licenses and other filings, analyzing complaints, conducting investigations, developing and implementing regulatory programs, and taking part in hearings based on judicial disputes arising in the use of radio spectrum."

Tags:indecency, monopolistic, electromagnetic-waves, regulation, delays

Abstract
This paper explains what the new regulations of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) are. The paper shows how the FCC has recently authorized novel mergers amid media corporations and that adversaries of the novel set of laws are expecting Congress to build no less than a temporary halt for such contracts and set of laws.

Contents
Introduction
Relationship and Authority between the FCC and Congress
Against the FCC rules
For the FCC Rules
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The novel FCC regulations intimidate Congress for the reason that they might add to the financial resources, as well as manpower that media corporations can spend in dealing with the news, counting the mischief of politicians, and they would reduce the aptitude of politicians to have an effect on news reporting. This is why the FCC sketched condemnation from such ideologically varied lawmakers as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), and Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.). Huge, varied media companies could more powerfully analyze members of Congress, and could in addition offer more incisive reporting of influential special interest groups."

Tags:television, communication, federal, congress, law, pirate

Abstract
This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of the FCC's recent rule changes regarding broadcast ownership in the United States. Specifically, it will discuss what is involved, the arguments on both sides of the issue, and the relative relationship and authority between the FCC and Congress in this dispute.

From the Paper
"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently issued new rules regarding broadcast ownership in America today, and the rules have generated great controversy since they were announced. Basically, the "FCC's rules make it easier for media corporations to buy more newspapers and television stations but tighten radio ownership rules" (Ahrens). Many critics of the new rules believe that allowing huge media corporations to buy even more newspapers and television stations would not only create a monopoly on the media in many areas, it would create a large lack of independent thought in the news and media. With a few large media corporations controlling essentially all of the media in many areas, free thought and expression would be replaced with a corporate spin on all the news available in the area. Before the FCC passed the new rules, millions of Americans voiced their displeasure over the new rules by writing letters and sending petitions to Washington, however, the FCC chose to ignore the pleas of the citizens, and OK'd the new rules in spite of the growing voice against them."

Tags:broadcast, media, radio, television

Abstract
This paper presents a detailed exploration of the recent FCC decisions concerning media and the percentage of ownership companies are allowed to have. The writer examines the issues, the decisions, and the Congressional intervention following public outcry about those decisions.

From the Paper
"One of the things that makes America great, according to many experts, is the diversity of the media. While one media source may be extremely conservative, another source may be more liberal. It is this balance of sides that has made the nation's media the solid source that it is today. Media has been depended on for many generations as a source of information. While most people are aware that the media is biased in its presentation there have always been stopgaps in place to prevent a controlling bias. One of the stop gaps that has been in place for many years was the mandate prohibiting any one media company from owning a large percentage of the television market."

Tags:public, percentage, congress

Abstract
This report is on the FCC and its influence on black media.

From the Paper
"THE IMPACT OF FCC REGULATION ON THE COMMERCIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF EVOLVING TECHNOLOGIES
Introduction
This research examines the impact of government regulation in telecommunications in the United States through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the commercial implementation of evolving technologies. The issues surrounding the commercial implementation of evolving interconnectivity technologies in the contemporary period provide the context of this examination.

The Interconnectivity Problem
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 enacted by the 104th Congress and signed into law by President Clinton on 8 February 1996 requires, in general, that all telecommunications carriers link (interconnect) their facilities and equipment either directly.."

Abstract
The paper reveals the problems inherent in the article such as the article being written before the auction taking place. The paper criticizes Macmillan for making profits his primary source of concern while emphasizing that the motivation behind this sale is not monetary. The paper notes a flaw in Macmillan's argument regarding efficiency being of paramount importance. The paper shows how the other goals discussed are mere covers for the desire to produce revenue.

From the Paper
"If the FCC were actually concerned about efficiency, minority ownership, preventing monopolies, and promoting the best usage of these spectrum for the sake of the people, it could have mirrored an auction such as the one in Argentina. This nation auctioned off its licenses not to the highest bidder, but to the company which could set up an efficient, goal driven system in the least amount of time."

Tags:FCC, government, auction, revenue, efficiency, profit

From the Paper
"Licensing Standards for Television and Radio
Who has the right to be seen on television? Who determines what we listen to in the car radio today, or watch at home tonight? If we feel unrepresented by the broadcasts available on these media, is it possible to participate in the creation or standards of those broadcasts? These questions may have seemed academic or pretentious in the early days of radio and television, when newness made the media exciting.


They become significant concerns in the 1990's, not only because mainstream media seems overwhelmed with advertisements and mundane programming, but because public consciousness is increasingly enmeshed with media images, and the pursuit of more media input. Consumer trends show one-time luxuries--high resolution tv's, and one or more VCR units--becoming commonplace..."

From the Paper
"Any discussion of a national obscenity standard must begin with the question: Does one exist? The 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Miller v. California, along with subsequent clarifying decisions, declared that from then on local communities would in effect establish their own rules and standards of what was and was not obscene. What's more, the court "specifically rejected the concept of a nationwide "contemporary community standard," and left to the individual states" to determine the scope of the community upon which questionable material might be judged (Linz, 1994, 82). Thus, at the time many thought this might abolish for good any thought of a national standard. Not surprisingly, however, considering the unpredictability of American public life, the high court's ruling has raised surprising ..."