One of the most common criticisms of the Communications Act is the so-called “siloed,” sector-based nature of the law and resulting regulation. The Communications Act consists of seven titles: general provisions, common carriers, provisions related to radio, procedural and administrative provisions, penal provisions and forfeitures, cable communications, and miscellaneous provisions. Each of the titles governs a specific sector of the communications economy with inconsistent approaches to definition and regulation.
How Many Broadcast TV and Radio Stations Are There? (Dec 2013)
Filed Under: Benton Headlines
The Federal Communications Commission announced the following totals for broadcast stations licensed as of December 31, 2013 ...
Something’s happening to local news
Filed Under: Benton Headlines
So far this year, 223 local TV stations have changed hands. This is the biggest wave of media consolidation ever -- and it's all happening in small and mid-level markets, involving companies most people have never heard of.
What Ted Cruz Doesn’t Want You to Know
Filed Under: Benton Headlines
By now it seems pretty clear that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has a plan to occupy the White House. But he doesn't want people to know too much about it. And he definitely doesn't want you to know about the special interests that have already begun to bankroll his political ambitions. That's why the Texas senator's latest crusade targets the Federal Communications Commission -- and its efforts to better identify the funders of political ads.
DOJ Request Pushes Sinclair-Allbritton Close Date Into ‘14
Filed Under: Benton Headlines
Sinclair is now scheduled to close on its $985 million acquisition of Allbritton in 2014, the time frame pushed back following a "Second Request for information" from the Department of Justice, according to Sinclair and Allbritton.
FTC Puts Conditions on Nielsen’s Proposed $1.6 Billion Acquisition of Arbitron
Filed Under: Benton Headlines
Media research company Nielsen has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its proposed acquisition of Arbitron may substantially lessen competition.
Stations Need to Work Harder for Political
Filed Under: Benton Headlines
With an increasing number of viable alternatives, local broadcasters need to get more aggressive in wooing political advertisers to continue getting their portion of the total spend.
LPTV Coalition: OTA Audience Could Be More Like 100 Million
Filed Under: Benton Headlines
In the hours before a hearing on video regulation and the reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), the LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition, formed to advocate for LPTV rights in the upcoming spectrum incentive auction, has told House Communications Subcommittee Greg Walden (R-OR) that the universe of people who can still watch free, over-the-air TV is probably more like 81 million to 100 million, rather than the lower estimates based on over-the-air (OTA) only households.