Deck 9: The Fcc and Broadcast Licensing

Question 1

In 1999 the FCC adopted a new procedure for awarding broadcast licenses when two or more qualified applicants are vying for the same commercial frequency.That procedure is

A)a diversification test
B)a qualitative proceeding
C)an auction
D)a comparative proceeding

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following was NOT one of the three main options Congress was faced with when dealing with choked and chaotic airwaves in the 1920s?

A)Commandeer the airwaves and create an entirely public system in which all broadcast stations were owned by government.
B)Let the private marketplace evolve on its own,with individual spectrum disputes being resolved in the courts.
C)Allow private ownership of broadcast stations,but only in accord with a government allocation process.
D)Convert to a system by which programming would be delivered directly by wire,rather than over the air.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The Federal Communications Commission has the power to

A)pass its own regulations.
B)adjudicate disputes within its realm of authority
C)regulate interstate and international communications by wire,satellite and cable.
D)All of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Under the Telecom Act of 1996,how often must radio broadcasters renew their FCC licenses?

A)Every 3 years.
B)Every 5 years.
C)Every 8 years.
D)None of the above; radio licenses are renewed only if the owner changes.

Question 5

_______ is the transmission of radio or television signals for intended reception by the general public.

A)Narrowcasting
B)Point-to-point delivery
C)Broadcasting
D)Cablecasting

Question 6

The _______ is a range of electromagnetic waves that is physically capable of use for radio and TV transmission.

A)radio spectrum
B)frequency band
C)band allotment
D)ultraviolet spectrum

Question 7

The FCC itself has expressed doubts about the continued legal validity of

A)the allocation process.
B)congressional jurisdiction over electronic media.
C)the scarcity rationale.
D)broadcast monitoring.

Question 8

Broadcasting licensing and regulation is handled by the FCC's

A)Radio Office.
B)Media Bureau.
C)Spectrum Division.
D)Communications Branch.

Question 9

In Red Lion Broadcasting v.FCC the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of regulations on broadcasting.The ruling hinged on which of the following concepts:

A)public decency
B)spectrum scarcity
C)diversity of ownership
D)All of the above

Question 10

The FCC is headed by

A)the vice president.
B)a subcommittee of Congress.
C)five commissioners appointed by the president.
D)nine commissioners selected by the National Association of Broadcasters.

Question 11

Regulatory power over broadcasting is the domain of the:

A)Federal government only.
B)Federal government and the various states,jointly.
C)Federal,state,and local governments,jointly.

Question 12

The Communications Act of 1934 specifically states that the FCC

A)shall protect the business investments of broadcasters.
B)is not granted the power of censorship.
C)shall assure fair and responsible programming by all licensees.
D)All of the above.

Question 13

Which of the following was effectively eliminated by the Telecom Act of 1996?

A)Comparative "renewal expectancy"
B)The required public-inspection file
C)The sponsor-ID requirement
D)All of the above.

Question 14

In 2002 the FCC passed its third version of EEO rules for the broadcast media.What do the rules require?

Question 15

When a broadcaster has performed irresponsibly or violated FCC rules,the commission is likely to employ a form of punishment less severe than nonrenewal.One such form of punishment is

A)renewal for a short term.
B)quarterly program review.
C)mandated time slots for public affairs programming.
D)mandated public apologies.

Question 16

What is meant by band allotment?

A)The task of reserving certain portions of the spectrum for particular uses
B)The process of deciding which applicant will be awarded which channels
C)The task of deciding within each spectrum usage area how many channels will be available
D)The process of establishing technical standards for the operation of stations

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT one of the basic qualifications required of all broadcast license applicants?

A)Applicants must be of good character-as measured by a lack of serious legal violations in one's past.
B)Applicants must show that their stations will comply with FCC technical standards.
C)Applicants must be U.S.citizens.
D)Applicants must submit a detailed programming plan and formal "ascertainment" findings.

Question 18

The FCC's new procedure for encouraging broadcast station ownership by small businesses,minorities and women is

A)bidding credits.
B)category quotas.
C)diversity preferences.
D)comparative evaluations of proposed programming.

Question 19

In the 1990 case of Metro Broadcasting v.FCC the Supreme Court narrowly upheld the FCC's preference policy for minority license applicants.But that precedent was apparently reversed in a later case called

A)Syracuse Peace Council.
B)Adarand Constructors v.Pena.
C)Bechtel v.FCC.
D)FCC v.WNCN Listeners Guild.