Communications Law

Underlining indicates a hyperlink. Click to access the relevant material. Assignments in grey will not be covered this semester unless there is substantial demand to do so.

Topic	Assigned Reading	Optional Reading
Unit I - Broadcast
A. Introduction to Broadcast Regulation & FCC	Introduction; Text, p 3-24
B. Background Primers
1. Introduction to Radio Spectrum	24-34	Spectrum Primer
C. Regulating the Spectrum
1. Introduction	35-55; FCC Principles	Public Interest Policy
2. Overview of FCC	57-64; Supp. 1-3	Federal Agencies Admin Procedures
3. Example of FCC Rulemaking	64-79	Paean to Competition
4. New Spectrum Policy	Supp. 11-40
D. Licensing
1. Assignment	81-90
2. Incumbent Preferences	111-122
3. Transfer	122-137
4. Auctions	139-155; Supp. 40-48;FCC Order re Auctions	700 MHz Auction
E. Competition in Broadcasting
1. The Networks	289-313
2. Ownership Rules	313-324; Supp. 58-86	TCA-Section 202; Duopoly Rules; Audience Caps National TV caps
F. Advanced Broadcasting Technologies
1. Low Power FM	325-332; Report & Order on LPFM	Low Power FM
1. Digital High Definition TV	332-360; Supp. 86-89; FCC Recommendations on DTV; Report and Order on DTV Transition	What is DTV?; Media Bureau Staff Report on Transition to HDTV; Benton Org: Implementing DTV Transition; Table of Allotments
2. Public Interest Obligation of Digital Broadcasters	360-367; Report to Congress - Abstract	Citizens' Guide to PIO of Digital B'Casters; Advisory Committee Report; Report to Congress - Full Report
3. Broadcast Flag	Supp. 89-103	Am. Library Ass'n v. FCC (full case)
4. Satellite Radio	Supp. 103-110	Digital Audio Radio Service; XM; Sirus
Unit II – Cable TV and Direct Broadcast Satellite
A. Introduction	369-380	FCC: 11th Annual Report on Competition in Video Markets
B. Early Regulatory History	391-399; Supp. 111-114
C. Local Control	399-411
1.Rate Regulation	413-429
2.Franchising Authority	429-440
D. Copyright and Syndication	441-453
E. Must Carry Rules	453-456; Supp. 114-132
F. A la Carte Programming	FCC Media Bureau: Further Report on Video Programming (pages 3-6, 46-47)
G. Mergers & Acquisitions
1. Vertical Integration of Cable Programming	499-508
2. Horizontal Integration of Cable Providers	508-525
3. Programming Diversity	525-539
4. Case Study - AOL – Time Warner Merger	FTC Complaint; Consent Decree; FTC Fact Sheet; FCC Fact Sheet
H. Direct Broadcast Satellite	541-550
1. Satellite Home Viewer Act	Satellite TV Home Viewer Act
2. Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act	550-557; SHVIA of 1999; Supp. 132-134	Zoning
Unit III – Wireline Telephony & Competition
A. Introduction to Telephone regulation	603-614
B. Monopoly Economics
1. Rise of monopoly power	614-623; Antitrust Suit against Microsoft
2. Utility Rate Regulation	635-639
C. Antitrust suit against AT&T	641-664
1. Rate Regulation	681-691
2. Restrictions on Telcos	691-712
D. Effect of 1996 Telecom Act	715-716; Supp. 136-147, 174-188	TCA § 271-275
1. Universal Service	768-791
E. Universal Service	768-780; Supp. 207-208, 231
F. Mergers & Acquisitions	793-797, 817-823; Supp. 208-215; FCC Order re AT&T Merger (pp 1-14)
Unit IV – Wireless Telephony
A. Technical Primer		Wireless Basics
B. Regulatory and Service Overview
1. Mobile Telephony (Pagers & Cellular)	Basic Wireless; Multiplex;
2. Advent of PCS	PCS broadband; narrowband
C. Interconnection w/ Wireline systems	749-755; Supp. 196-207
D. Advanced Wireless Systems	Wireless Com. Svcs
1. WAP, Blue Tooth, and the future
2. Satellite telephony	Access to INTELSAT
Unit V - Internet & Advanced Services
A. Development of Internet	827-835; Tech Primer (D. Steele)
B. Regulatory Basics	835-839
C. Content Regulation	Supp. 233-247
D. Deployment of Advanced Services	867-880
1. Open Access	Supp. 249-274	Open Access NOI
2. Internet telephony (voice over IP)	880-891, 945-950; Supp. 286-298	FCC web site on VoIP
3. 3G		Tech Primer
4. Peering and Transit Arrangements	915-925
E. The Digital Divide – Who has Access	About the Digital Divide The DD & the Telecom Act	Media Concentrations
E. Future of the FCC	951-963