General Discussion

kentuck

(115,409 posts) Fri Apr 23, 2021, 06:11 PM Apr 2021

Who is the present Director of the FCC ??

I recall that Ajit Pai, nominated by Trump, resigned on January 20th.

Who is in charge now?

Generally speaking, what could a FCC Director do to clean up up the mess in cable news? There are two or three TV companies and many radio station owners that believe it is OK to parrot lies from their political leaders. That should never be acceptable.

Who would make a good FCC Director?

6 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Who is the present Director of the FCC ?? (Original Post) kentuck Apr 2021 OP

Restore & tighten the rules of the Fairness Doctrine. Budi Apr 2021 #1

The FCC has no authority to regulate cable programming blogslug Apr 2021 #2

That was going to be my reponse. Thanks. mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2021 #3

Can Congress pass a law over-seeing the FCC? kentuck Apr 2021 #4

The FCC was created by Congress by the Communications Act of 1934. onenote Apr 2021 #6

The acting Chairperson of the FCC is Jessica Rosenworcel onenote Apr 2021 #5

Budi

(15,325 posts)

1. Restore & tighten the rules of the Fairness Doctrine.

Reply to kentuck (Original post)

Fri Apr 23, 2021, 06:25 PM

Apr 2021

That might be a good place to start.

blogslug

(39,167 posts)

2. The FCC has no authority to regulate cable programming

Reply to kentuck (Original post)

Fri Apr 23, 2021, 06:34 PM

Apr 2021

mahatmakanejeeves

(69,887 posts)

3. That was going to be my reponse. Thanks.

Reply to blogslug (Reply #2)

Fri Apr 23, 2021, 06:38 PM

Apr 2021

Generally speaking, what could a FCC Director do to clean up up the mess in cable news?

Nothing.

kentuck

(115,409 posts)

4. Can Congress pass a law over-seeing the FCC?

Reply to blogslug (Reply #2)

Fri Apr 23, 2021, 07:17 PM

Apr 2021

I would think they would have the authority of the Constitution or did they just appear out of thin air?

onenote

(46,147 posts)

6. The FCC was created by Congress by the Communications Act of 1934.

Reply to kentuck (Reply #4)

Fri Apr 23, 2021, 08:08 PM

Apr 2021

It has been amended a number of times over the years, most significantly in 1984 (when it was amended to address cable television), 1992 (when the cable provisions were amended), and 1996 (the telecommunications act).

Congress routinely conducts FCC oversight hearings.

onenote

(46,147 posts)

5. The acting Chairperson of the FCC is Jessica Rosenworcel

Reply to kentuck (Original post)

Fri Apr 23, 2021, 07:51 PM

Apr 2021

Jessica worked at the FCC in various positions (including as an advisor to Commissioner Michael Copps). She also worked on the Hill on communications issues for Rockefeller and then Inouye. She was first named to the FCC as a Commissioner by Obama. She was nominated by Obama for a second term, but her nomination wasn't acted on before the 2016 election and she left the Commission. However, Trump then agreed to re-nominate her (to fill the vacant Democratic slot in a paired nomination that filled a Republican vacancy at the same time).

It is widely anticipated that Biden will nominate her to be the first female Chair of the FCC. However, at present, the FCC is split 2-2 with a Democratic vacancy. Until that vacancy is filled, there isn't likely to be any dramatic change in FCC regulatory policy.

And the ability of the FCC to do anything about cable news is essentially nonexistent. First Amendment.

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