Media

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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.

About

Leadership

William T. Lake

William T. Lake, Bureau Chief

Contact

mbinfo@fcc.gov
Phone: (202) 418-7200
Fax: (202) 418-2376

mbweb@fcc.gov
Web page design or content

Media Bureau Workshops on the State of the Video Marketplace

Media Headlines

More Headlines

Recent Blog Posts

More Blog Posts

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