Quick Links
The Media Bureau oversees broadcast radio and television, as well as cable and satellite services on behalf of consumers. It also administers licensing and policy matters for broadcast services and cable, and handles post-licensing matters for satellite services.
Leadership
William T. Lake, Bureau Chief
Contact
Media Bureau Workshops on the State of the Video Marketplace
Media Headlines
Media Bureau releases Order adopting a Consent Decree
Hemisphere Media Group, Inc.
FCC Grants WSAW Satellite Market Modification
18th Annual Video Competition Report
2014 Quadrennial Review of the Commission's Broadcast Ownership Rule
Recent Blog Posts
AM Window Openings a Resounding Success
On October 31, 2016, the Media Bureau closed the second of two filing windows designed to allow...
An Update on Our Review of the Good Faith Retransmission Consent Negotiation Rules
Whether they're tuning in to hear the local traffic and weather reports or settling in on the...
MB Information Sheets
Issues and Initiatives
Political Programming
The Commission is responsible for political programming rules for radio, television, cable television and direct broadcast satellite (DBS). The Bureau’s political programming staff is available to answer questions either by email, campaignlaw@fcc.gov, or by phone, 202 418-1440.
Broadcast Radio and Television Licensing
The Bureau issues a variety of broadcast licenses. The manual, How to Apply for a Radio or Television Broadcast Station, provides details on the different types. The publication, The Public and Broadcasting, gives a history of the Commission’s rules and an overview of station requirements.
Cable Price Survey
Congress requires the Commission to publish an annual statistical report on average rates charged by cable operators for basic service, other cable programming and cable equipment. A web-based electronic filing system is available for those required to fill out the survey. The deadline for providing information for use in the 2015 report is December 7, 2015.
Form 323 (Ownership Report)
Every two years, commercial broadcast stations are required to electronically file an ownership report with the Commission. The report due December 2, 2015, will provide information as of October 1, 2015.
Incentive Auction
The incentive auction will permit television broadcasters to voluntarily go off the air, share their spectrum or move channels in exchange for receiving part of the proceeds from auctioning that spectrum to wireless providers to support 21st century wireless broadband needs.
Competition Report
The Commission is required to annually report to Congress on the state of competition in the delivery of video programming. The next, or 17th Report, will categorize entities that deliver video programming in one of three groups: multi-channel video program distributors (MVPDs); broadcast stations; or online video distributors (OVDs).
Useful Links
- Localism
- Media Ownership
- Merger and Transaction Pages
- Open Video Systems Certification
- Open Video Systems Notices of Intent
- Peer Review
- Political Programming & Candidate Access Rules
- Radio and Television Station Information
- Rural Telecommunications
- Significantly Viewed List (4/19/16)
- STELAR Market Modification
- Video Description