[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 47, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 47CFR0.61]

[Page 14-15]
 
                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION
 
              CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
 
PART 0--COMMISSION ORGANIZATION--Table of Contents
 
                         Subpart A--Organization
 
Sec.  0.61  Functions of the Bureau.

    The Media Bureau develops, recommends and administers the policy and 
licensing programs for the regulation of media, including cable 
television, broadcast television and radio, and satellite services in 
the United States and its territories. The Bureau advises and recommends 
to the Commission, or acts for the Commission under delegated authority, 
in matters pertaining to multichannel video programming distribution, 
broadcast radio and television, direct broadcast satellite service 
policy, and associated matters. The Bureau will, among other things:
    (a) Process applications for authorization, assignment, transfer and 
renewal of media services, including AM, FM, TV, the cable TV relay 
service, and related services.
    (b) Conduct rulemaking proceedings concerning the legal, 
engineering, and economic aspects of media service.
    (c) Conduct comprehensive studies and analyses concerning the legal, 
engineering, and economic aspects of electronic media services.
    (d) Administer and enforce rules and policies regarding equal 
employment opportunity.
    (e) Administer and enforce rules and policies regarding political 
programming and related matters.
    (f) Administer and enforce rules and policies regarding:
    (1) Radio and television broadcast industry services;
    (2) Cable television systems, operators, and services, including 
those relating to rates, technical standards, customer service, 
ownership, competition to cable systems, broadcast station signal 
retransmission and carriage, program access, wiring equipment, channel 
leasing, and federal-state/local regulatory relationships. This 
includes: acting, after Commission assumption of jurisdiction to 
regulate cable television rates for basic service and associated 
equipment, on cable operator requests for approval of existing or 
increased rates; reviewing appeals of local franchising authorities' 
rate making decisions involving rates for the basic service tier and 
associated equipment, except when such appeals raise novel or unusual 
issues;

[[Page 15]]

evaluating basic rate regulation certification requests filed by cable 
system franchising authorities; periodically reviewing and, when 
appropriate, revising standard forms used in administering: the 
certification process for local franchising authorities wishing to 
regulate rates, and the substantive rate regulation standards prescribed 
by the Commission;
    (3) Open video systems;
    (4) Preemption of restrictions on devices designed for over-the-air 
reception of television broadcast signals, multichannel multipoint 
distribution service, and direct broadcast satellite services;
    (5) The commercial availability of navigational devices;
    (6) The accessibility of video programming to persons with 
disabilities;
    (7) Program access and carriage;
    (8) The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act; and
    (9) Post-licensing for satellite consumer broadcast services (DBS, 
DTH and DARS).
    Note to paragraph (f):
    The Media Bureau's enforcement authority does not include 
enforcement in those areas assigned to the Enforcement Bureau. See 47 
CFR 0.111.
    (g) Conduct rulemaking and policy proceedings regarding pole 
attachments.
    (h) Process and act on all applications for authorization, petitions 
for special relief, petitions to deny, waiver requests, requests for 
certification, objections, complaints, and requests for declaratory 
rulings and stays regarding the areas listed.
    (i) Assist the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau on issues 
involving informal consumer complaints and other general inquiries by 
consumers.
    (j) Exercise authority to issue non-hearing related subpoenas for 
the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, 
papers, correspondence, memoranda, schedules of charges, contracts, 
agreements, and any other records deemed relevant to the investigation 
of matters within the jurisdiction of the Media Bureau. Before issuing a 
subpoena, the Media Bureau shall obtain the approval of the Office of 
General Counsel.
    (k) Carry out the functions of the Commission under the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, except as reserved to the 
Commission under Sec.  0.283.

[67 FR 13217, Mar. 21, 2002]

                      Office of Workplace Diversity