[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 47, Volume 1]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

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.



[[Page 15]]



    (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; 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