FAIR Ratings Act

H.R.501, to enforce the public interest obligations of broadcast station licensees to their local communities H.R.951, to reinstate the FCC’s rules for the description of video programming H.R.998, to preserve local radio broadcast emergency and other services and to require the FCC to conduct a rulemaking for that purpose H.R.1420, to prohibit as indecent the broadcasting of any advertisement for medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction H.R.1440, to prohibit the FCC from imposing penalties for indecent broadcasts on providers of video over cable television systems, satellite carriers, the Internet, or non-broadcast providers H.R.1622, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reduce restrictions on media ownership H.R.1661, to amend the Small Business Act and the Communications Act of 1934 to increase participation by small businesses in spectrum auctions conducted by the FCC H.R.1665, to shorten the term of broadcasting licenses under the Communications Act of 1934 from eight to three years, to provide better public access to broadcasters’ public interest issues and programs lists and children’s programming reports H.R.1730, to reinstate the authority of the FCC and local franchising authorities to regulate the rates for cable television service H.R.2354, to prohibit the FCC from requiring digital television tuners in television receivers H.R.2359, to establish minimum public interest requirements for multi-cast digital television channels H.R.2726, to prohibit municipal governments from offering telecommunications, information, or cable services except to remedy market failures by private enterprise to provide such services H.R.2904, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against the income tax for an owner of a radio broadcasting station which donates the license and other assets of such station to a nonprofit corporation for purposes of supporting nonprofit fine arts and performing arts organizations H.R.3032, to require manufacturers and retailers to provide disclosure to consumers that analog televisions will no longer receive broadcast transmissions after the public broadcast spectrum changes to digital after Dec. 31, 2006 H.R.3146, to promote deployment of competitive video services and eliminate redundant and unnecessary regulation H.R.3302, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent excessive concentration of ownership of the nation’s media outlets, to restore fairness in broadcasting, and to foster and promote localism, diversity and competition in the media H.R.4569, to require certain analog conversion devices to preserve digital content security measures H.R.4861, to authorize the FCC to impose licensing conditions on digital audio radio to protect against the unauthorized distribution of transmitted content. S. 2327, to require the FCC to issue a final order regarding white spaces H.R.148, to require the FCC to report to Congress regarding the ownership and control of broadcast stations used to serve language minorities H.R.5264, to provide American consumers information about the broadcast television transition from an analog to a digital format H.R.5919, to empower parents to protect children from increasing depictions of indecent material on television H.R. 6384, to amend title 17, U.S. Code, with respect to settlement agreements reached with respect to litigation involving certain secondary transmissions of superstations and network stations S.193, to increase the penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language S.312, to implement the recommendations of the FCC report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service S.383, to shorten the term of broadcasting licenses under the Communications Act of 1934 from eight to three years, to provide better public access to broadcasters’ public interest issues and programs lists and children’s programming reports S.616, to inform the American public and to protect children from increasing depictions of indecent and gratuitous and excessive violent material on television S.900, to reinstate the FCC’s rules for the description of video programming S.946, to amend the communications Act of 1934 to require multichannel video programming distributors to provide a kid-friendly tier of programming S.967, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure that prepackaged news stories contain announcements that inform viewers that the information within was provided by the U.S. government S.1236, to ensure the availability of spectrum to amateur radio operators S.1237, to expedite the transition to digital television while helping consumers to continue to use their analog televisions S.1268, to expedite the transition to digital television while helping consumers to continue to use their analog televisions S.1349, to promote deployment of competitive video services, eliminate redundant and unnecessary regulation, and further the development of next generation broadband networks S.1372, to provide for the accuracy of television ratings services S.1600, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure full access to digital television in areas served by low-power television S.2418, a bill to preserve local radio broadcast emergency and other services and to require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a rulemaking for that purpose S.2686, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 and for other purposes, Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 S. 2989, to reform the franchise procedure relating to cable service and video service, and for other purposes S. 3457, to provide a national franchise and other regulatory relief to video service providers who offer a-la-carte programming for cable television, and for other purposes H.R.3876, to provide that private land use rules be treated as state or local regulation for purposes of certain FCC regulations

Client expense: $1,100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Before the Federal Communications Commission: In the Matter of the 2002 Biennial Regulatory Ownership Review, MB 02-277 In the Matter of the Implemplementation of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement and Modernization of the Commission's Competitive Bidding Rules and Procedures, WT 05-211 In the Matter of Cable Carriage of Digital Broadcast Signals, CS 98-120 In the Matter of Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service, MB 99-325 In the Matter of Petition for Rulemaking of the National Association of Broadcasters to permit AM Radio Stations' use of FM Translators, RM-11338 In the Matter of FCC Seeks Public Comment on Creation of a Spectrum Sharing Innovation Test- Bed; NTIA Notice of Inquiry, ET 06-89, Docket No. 060602142-6142-01 In the Matter of Recommendations of the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks, EB 06-119 In the Matter of Measurement Standards for Digital Television Signals Pursuant to the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act, ET 06-94 H.R. 501, Fairness and Accountability in Broadcasting Act, To enforce the public interest obligations of broadcast station licensees to their local communities. All provisions related to broadcasting. Satellite Home Viewer Act of 1988, Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999, and the Satellite Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004. In the Matter of Amendment of Part 2 of the Commission’s Rules to Allocate Spectrum Below 3 GHz for Mobile and Fixed Services to Support the Introduction of New Advanced Wireless Services, Including Third Generation Wireless Systems, ET 00-258, ET 95-18, IB 99-81 In the Matter of The Rail Network, Inc. Request for Waiver of Part 15 of the Commission’s Rules, ET 06-161 In the Matter of Amendment to Section 90.20(e)(6) of the Commission’s Rules, WT 06-142, RM-11145 In the Matter of Waiver Requests by Clarity Media Systems to Operate “CARS” Stations at Flying J Travel Plazas, DA 06-1664 In the Matter of The Establishment of Policies and Service Rules for the Broadcasting Satellite Service, IB 06-123 In the Matter of Quadrennial Ownership Review, MB 06-121 In the Matter of 700 MHz Service Rules; Rules to Ensure E-911 Compatibility, WT 06-150, CC 94-102, WT 01-309 In the Matter of Annual Assessment of the Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming, MB 06-189 In the Matter of Mediacom Communications Corporation’s Emergency Retransmission Consent Complaint, CSR-7058-C In the Matter of XM & Sirius Special Temporary Authority Applications, SAT-STA-20061002-00114, et al. Before the National Telecommunications and Information Administration: In the Matter of Implementation and Administration of a Coupon Program for Digital-to-Analog Convert Boxes, Docket No. 060512129-6129-01 Letter regarding Joint Stakeholder Request that coupon-Eligible Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes Meet Two Watt Standby Power Limit and Include Auto-Power-Down Feature Before the Environmental Protection Agency: Letter regarding Joint Stakeholder Request that coupon-Eligible Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes Meet Two Watt Standby Power Limit and Include Auto-Power-Down Feature H.R.998 Local Emergency Radio Service Preservation Act of 2005, To preserve local radio broadcast emergency and other services and to require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a rulemaking for that purpose. All provisions relating to the preservation of local radio broadcast emergency and other services. H.R.3298 Television Viewer Consumer Protection Act of 2005, To provide for the efficacy of television ratings services, and for other purposes. All provisions relating to television broadcasting. H.R.5252 Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006, To promote the deployment of broadband networks and services. All provisions relating to broadcasting and the broadcast industry. H.R.5672 , Making appropriations for Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes. Provisions having to do with the funding of the Federal Communication Commission. S.193 Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005, A bill to increase the penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language. All provisions relating to broadcasting. S.616 Indecent and Gratuitous and Excessively Violent Programming Control Act of 2005, A bill to inform the American public and to protect children from increasing depictions of indecent and gratuitous and excessive violent material on television, and for other purposes. All provisions relating to broadcasting. S.967 Prepackaged News Story Announcement Act of 2005, A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure that prepackaged news stories contain announcements that inform viewers that the information within was provided by the United States Government, and for other purposes. All provisions relating to television broadcasting. S.1237 Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement to Improve Vital Emergency Services Act, A bill to expedite the transition to digital television while helping consumers to continue to use their analog televisions. All provisions relating to broadcast spectrum and transmission of television signals to consumers. S.1268 Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement to Improve Vital Emergency Services Act, A bill to expedite the transition to digital television while helping consumers to continue to use their analog televisions. All provisions relating to broadcast spectrum and transmission of television signals to consumers. S.1372 Fairness, Accuracy, Inclusivity, and Responsiveness in Ratings Act of 2005, A bill to provide for the accuracy of television ratings services, and for other purposes. All provisions related to broadcast television. S.1932 Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 Title: An original bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202(a) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006 (H. Con. Res. 95). Title III, provisions related to broadcast services. S.2418 Local Emergency Radio Service Preservation Act of 2006, A bill to preserve local radio broadcast emergency and other services and to require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a rulemaking for that purpose. All provisions relating to the preservation of local radio broadcast emergency and other services. S.2686 Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006, A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 and for other purposes. All provisions relating to the broadcast industry. From Action Alert: McCain/Cantwell LPFM, Snowe Indecency, DeMint satellite protection, Kerry duopoly disqualification, Sununu broadcast flag, Rockefeller indecent/violent programming, Dorgan Ownership, Boxer Converter Box S.3457 Consumers Having Options in Cable Entertainment Act, A bill to provide a national franchise and other regulatory relief to video service providers who offer a-la-carte programming for cable television, and for other purposes. All provisions relating to the broadcast industry. H.R.4861, To authorize the Federal Communications Commission to impose licensing conditions on digital audio radio to protect against the unauthorized distribution of transmitted content. S.4080, A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, with respect to settlement agreements reached with respect to litigation involving certain secondary transmissions of superstations and network stations. S.4067, A bill to provide for secondary transmissions of distant network signals for private home viewing by certain satellite carriers. H.R.310 Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005. To increase the penalites for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane material, and for other purposes. All provisions relating to broadcasting.

“H.R. 3032, TV Truth Act of 2005” Title: To require manufacturers and retailers to provide disclosure to consumers that analog televisions will no longer receive broadcast transmissions after the public broadcast spectrum changes to digital after December 31, 2006. “H.R. 3298, Television Viewer Consumer Protection Act of 2005” Title: To provide for the efficacy of television ratings services, and for other purposes. “H.R. 3302, Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005” Title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent excessive concentration of ownership of the nation's media outlets, to restore fairness in broadcasting, and to foster and promote localism, diversity, and competition in the media. “H.R. 3731, Enhance and Protect Local Community Radio Act of 2005” Title: To implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service. “H.R. 4124, Children and Media Research Advancement Act or the CAMRA Act” Title: To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize funding for the establishment of a program on children and the media within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the role and impact of electronic media in the development of children. “H.R. 4569, Digital Transition Content Security Act of 2005” Title: To require certain analog conversion devices to preserve digital content security measures. “H.R. 4626, Re-channelization of Public Safety Spectrum Act” Title: To rechannelize spectrum in the 700 megahertz band to promote the deployment of commercial broadband technologies to facilitate interoperable communications for public safety. “H.R. 5085, American Broadband for Communities Act” Title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to promote and expedite wireless broadband deployment in rural and other areas, and for other purposes. “H.R. 5252, Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006” Title: To promote the deployment of broadband networks and services. “H.R. 5556, Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act” Title: To establish a unified national hazard alert system, and for other purposes. H.R. 5919 Title: To empower parents to protect children from increasing depictions of indecent material on television. H.R. 6402 Title: To provide for secondary transmissions of distant network signals for private home viewing by certain satellite carriers. MM 00-167- Children’s Television Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters MM 99-325- Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service DA 01-1264- NASA Petition for Inquiry into Network Practices WT- 05-7- Qualcomm’s Petition for Declaratory Ruling CG 02-278- Rules and Regulations implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 CG 05-338- Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 CG 05-231- Closed Captioning of Video programming MB 06-121, MB 02-277, MM 01-235, MM 01-317, MM 00-244 – Ownership – 2006 Quadrennial Regulatory Review – Review of the Commission’s Broadcast Ownership Rules and Other Rules Adopted Pursuant to Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 MM 06-189 – Annual Assessment of the Status of Competition in the Market for Delivery of Video Programming CSR-7065-Z; CS 97-80 – NCTA Request for a Limited Time Waiver of the Set-Top Box Integration Ban MB -05-317 – Waiver of Digital Testing Pursuant to the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 CSR – 7058-C – Mediacom Communications Corporation’s Emergency Retransmission Consent Complaint “S.1600, Digital Translator and Low-Power Telecvision Transition Assistance Act” Title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure full access to digital television in areas served by low-power television. “S.1753, Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act” Title: A bill to establish a unified national hazard alert system, and for other purposes. “S.1902, Children and Media Research Advancement Act or the CAMRA Act” Title: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize funding for the establishment of a program on children and the media within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the role and impact of electronic media in the development of children. “S.2327, Wireless Innovation Acto f 2006 or WINN Act” Title: A bill to require the FCC to issue a final order regarding white spaces. “S.2332, American Broadband for Communities Act” Title: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to promote and expedite wireless broadband deployment in rural and other areas, and for other purposes. “S.2418, Local Emergency Radio Service Protection Act of 2006” Title: A bill to preserve local radio broadcast emergency and other services and to require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a rulemaking for that purpose. “S. 2686, Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006” Title: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 and for other purposes. S. 3457 Title: A bill to provide a national franchise and other regulatory relief to video service providers who offer a-la-carte programming for cable television, and for other purposes. S. 4067 Title: A bill to provide for secondary transmissions of distant network signals for private home viewing by certain satellite carriers. S. 4068 Title: A bill to clarify provisions relating to statutory copyright licenses for satellite carriers. S. 4074 Title: A bill to provide certain counties with the ability to receive television broadcast signals of their choice. S. 4080 Title: A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, with respect to settlement agreements reached with respect to litigation involving certain secondary transmissions of superstations and network stations. S. 4092 Title: A bill to clarify certain land use in Jefferson County, Colorado to construct or install either a digital television broadcast station antenna or tower. H.R. 6340 Title: To clarify provisions relating to statutory copyright licenses for satellite carriers. H.R. 6384 Title: To amend title 17, United States Code, with respect to settlement agreements reached with respect to litigation involving certain secondary transmissions of superstations and network stations. “S.312, Local Community Radio Act of 2005” Title: A bill to implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service. “S.383, Localism in Broadcasting Reform Act of 2005” Title: A bill to shorten the term of broadcasting licenses under the Communications Act of 1934 from 8 to 3 years, to provide better public access to broadcasters' public interest issues and programs lists and children's programming reports, and for other purposes. “S.616, Indecent and Gratuitous and Excessively Violent Programming Control Act of 2005” Title: A bill to inform the American public and to protect children from increasing depictions of indecent and gratuitous and excessive violent material on television, and for other purposes. “S.799, Prevention of Childhood Obesity Act” Title: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the coordination of Federal Government policies and activities to prevent obesity in childhood, to provide for State childhood obesity prevention and control, and to establish grant programs to prevent childhood obesity within homes, schools, and communities. “S.900, Television Information-Enhancement for the Visually Impaired Act or the TIVI Act” Title: A bill to reinstate the Federal Communications Commission's rules for the description of video programming. “S.946, Kid Friendly TV Programming Act of 2005” Title: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-channel video programming distributors to provide a kid-friendly tier of programming. “S.967, Truth in Broadcasting Act of 2005” Title: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure that prepackaged news stories contain announcements that inform viewers that the information within was provided by the United States Government, and for other purposes. “S.1023, Digital Opportunity Investment Trust Act” Title: A bill to provide for the establishment of a Digital Opportunity Investment Trust. “S.1236, Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005” Title: A bill to ensure the availability of spectrum to amateur radio operators. ”S. 1349, Video Choice Act of 2005” Title: A bill to promote deployment of competitive video services, eliminate redundant and unnecessary regulation, and further the development of next generation broadband networks. “S.1372, Fairness, Accuracy, Inclusivity, and Responsiveness in Ratings Act of 2005 or FAIR Ratings Act” Title: A bill to provide for the accuracy of television ratings services, and for other purposes. “H.R. 501, Fairness and Accountability in Broadcasting Act” Title: To enforce the public interest obligations of broadcast station licensees to their local communities. “H.R. 691, Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2005” Title: To ensure the availability of spectrum to amateur radio operators. “H.R. 951, Video Description Restoration Act of 2005” Title: To reinstate the Federal Communications Commission's rules for the description of video programming. “H.R. 998, Local Emergency Radio Service Preservation Act of 2005” Title: To preserve local radio broadcast emergency and other services and to require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a rulemaking for that purpose. “H.R. 1420, Families for ED Advertising Decency Act” Title: To prohibit as indecent the broadcasting of any advertisement for a medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. “H.R. 1440, Stamp Out Censorship Act of 2005” Title: To prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from imposing penalties for indecent broadcasts on providers of video over cable television systems, satellite carriers, the Internet, or non-broadcast providers. “H.R. 1473, Telecommunications Ownership Diversification Act of 2005” Title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a deferral of tax on gain from the sale of telecommunications businesses in specific circumstances or a tax credit and other incentives to promote diversity of ownership in telecommunications businesses. “H.R. 1622, Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act” Title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reduce restrictions on media ownership, and for other purposes. “H.R. 1665, Localism in Broadcasting Reform Act of 2005” Title: To shorten the term of broadcasting licenses under the Communications Act of 1934 from 8 to 3 years, to provide better public access to broadcasters' public interest issues and programs lists and children's programming reports, and for other purposes. “H.R. 2354, TV Consumer Choice Act” Title: To prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from requiring digital television tuners in television receivers. “H.R. 2359, Digital Television Accountability and Governance Enhancement Act of 2005 or the DTV-AGE Act” Title: To establish minimum public interest requirements for multi-cast digital television channels. H.R. 2422 Title: To allow media coverage of court proceedings. “H.R. 148, National Minority Media Opportunities Act” Title: To require the Federal Communications Commission to report to Congress regarding the ownership and control of broadcast stations used to serve language minorities, and for other purposes.

Fairness, Accuracy, Inclusivity, and Responsiveness in Ratings (FAIR Ratings) Act (S. 1372) Television Viewer Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 3298)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Television ratings; introduction of Local People Meters in local media markets; S.1372; HR 32981H

Client expense: $1,010,000 · Firm income: Not reported