Deck 12: Constitutional Issues and Content Regulation

Question 1

The First Amendment was designed to provide protection from

A)false ideas.
B)government censorship.
C)offensive ideas.
D)private censorship.
E)obscenity and indecency.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

One of the main arguments justifying additional regulations imposed on broadcasting (as opposed to print) is

A)channel scarcity.
B)cross-ownership rules for print and broadcast media.
C)expense of operation.
D)the public service factor.
E)the chilling effect.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Speech and press protections for telephone systems, DBS, and the Internet

A)fall between the protections afforded newspapers and broadcasters.
B)are the same as those afforded newspapers.
C)are the same as those afforded broadcasters.
D)are the same as those afforded cable.
E)are nonexistent.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which is an example of protected speech?

A)Defamation
B)False ideas
C)Obscenity
D)Invasion of privacy
E)Indecency involving children

Question 5

In the 1964 Times v.Sullivan case, the Supreme Court ruled that

A)libel laws have a chilling effect on public officials.
B)criticism of public officials is not protected by the First Amendment.
C)false allegations against unnamed officials constitute libel.
D)slander in newspapers may be treated as libel.
E)criticism of public officials is protected by the First Amendment.

Question 6

In cases of invasion of privacy, entering someone's home without his or her permission violates

A)the right to physical solitude.
B)the right to protect private details of your life from publication.
C)protections from being presented in a false light.
D)protections from unauthorized use of one's name or image for commercial gain.
E)protections from intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Question 7

The 1973 U.S.Supreme Court decision on obscenity (Miller v.California)

A)declared that any material, no matter how obscene, can be sold to individuals for use in the privacy of their own homes.
B)declared that obscenity was in the eye of the beholder.
C)directed agencies to apply local community standards in judging obscenity.
D)established national standards for the determination of obscenity.
E)struck down use of local community standards in determining obscenity.

Question 8

The FCC based its ruling on the WBAI-FM Pacifica station broadcast of George Carlin's "Filthy Words" monologue on

A)libel law.
B)the right to privacy.
C)the daypart the program aired because children were likely to be in the audience.
D)equal opportunity provisions for broadcast.
E)chilling effect.

Question 9

The equal-opportunities provision (Section 315)

A)prohibits political debates between candidates.
B)ensures that all candidates for the same office are given comparable news coverage.
C)ensures that comparable broadcast time be given only to candidates from the two major political parties.
D)states that all candidates for the same office must be treated alike by broadcasters.
E)allows all candidates access to network facilities.

Question 10

If a political candidate were to appear on a regularly scheduled interview or talk program, would his or her opponent have to be allowed equal opportunities?

A)Yes, because interview shows are covered by Section 315.
B)Yes, but only on the same program the first candidate appeared on.
C)Yes, but only if the program were produced by a network news department, such as Today or Good Morning, America.
D)Yes, but only if the programs were a local talk show.
E)No, because regularly scheduled interview shows are exempt from Section 315.

Question 11

Candidates who buy time one month before elections

A)may be charged the station's highest rates.
B)must be charged the going rate, or whatever the time period will allow.
C)must be charged the "lowest unit" charge, such as that found on maximum quantity discounts, if they buy that many spots.
D)must be charged the average lowest unit charge across the time periods purchased.
E)must be charged the "lowest unit" charge, even if they buy only one spot.

Question 12

The Red Lion decision

A)gave legal standing to political action committees.
B)overturned the Mayflower doctrine.
C)affirmed the Fairness Doctrine.
D)reinterpreted Section 310(a) of the Communications Act dealing with foreign ownership.
E)overturned the Fairness Doctrine.

Question 13

In 1987, key congressional legislators __________ elimination of the Fairness Doctrine.

A)strongly favored
B)mildly favored
C)were neutral and didn't respond when the FCC proposed
D)mildly opposed
E)strongly opposed

Question 14

In dealing with a Fairness Doctrine demand for access to editorial advertising, the Supreme Court stated that broadcast stations

A)must grant time for all viewpoints having significant support in their communities.
B)must grant time for advertorials for supporters of political candidates only.
C)must accept ads for products that also appear on cable or in print.
D)may not refuse ads if advertisers can pay for them.
E)retain the right to exercise editorial judgment.

Question 15

Congress enacted specific program requirements in 1990 for

A)political broadcasts.
B)advertorials.
C)children's television.
D)cable editorials.
E)political coverage on cable.

Question 16

This law mandates that new television sets be equipped with a "V-chip."

A)Fairness Doctrine
B)Children's Television Act of 1990
C)Section 315
D)Telecommunications Act of 1996
E)Copyright Act of 1976

Question 17

Key provisions of the Copyright Act of 1976 include all of the following except

A)definitions of copyrightable works.
B)definitions of length of a copyright.
C)specifications for compulsory licensing of cable programs to TV stations.
D)concept of fair use.
E)establishment of a Copyright Royalty Tribunal (CRT).

Question 18

Blanket licenses allow radio stations to

A)play only specific musical records.
B)play records on a per-use basis.
C)use any copyrighted music at will.
D)unlimited airplay use of any music in the licensing agency's catalog.
E)use any music, copyrighted or public domain, at will.

Question 19

Signal piracy concerns all of the following except

A)cable.
B)VCRs.
C)TVROs.
D)recorded music.
E)over-the-air television.

Question 20

Which of the following does not describe regulators?

A)Seek government intervention
B)Oppose media monopolies
C)Believe in First Amendment parity
D)View communication more in cultural than economic terms
E)Want protection of the public interest from unrestrained competition.

Question 21

The First Amendment protects speech presenting a "clear and present danger."

Question 22

All electronic media, including broadcast and cable, have parity with print media under the First Amendment.

Question 23

Federal courts do not allow camera coverage of proceedings.

Question 24

Obscenity and indecency are defined today using broad, national standards.

Question 25

Bona fide news programs are exempt from Section 315.

Question 26

After the FCC eliminated the Fairness Doctrine, Congress also dropped the personal attack and political editorializing rules.

Question 27

The Children's Television Act of 1990 sets specific limits on advertising time in children's programming.

Question 28

Fair use allows limited uses of copyrighted works without payment or permission for certain educational and critical or creative purposes.

Question 29

Technology and deregulation have challenged old assumptions of how the First Amendment applies to modern media.

Question 30

List the protections found in the First Amendment.

Question 31

List the rationales for regulating broadcasting differently from print media.

Question 32

Write a short essay that illustrates libel.

Question 33

Describe equal opportunities and reasonable access laws for political candidates.

Question 34

Describe the major provisions of the Children's Television Act of 1990.

Question 35

How does copyright work?