Congressional Research Service Reports - 214 Matching Results

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The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

Description: This report provides information about The Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape on the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC is an independent agency with its five members appointed by the president.
Date: September 14, 2012
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Journalists’ Privilege: Overview of the Law and Legislation in the 109th and 110th Congresses

Description: This report examines laws pertaining to journalists' privilege. Most states afford journalists some protection from compelled release of their confidential sources. The question remains, however, as to whether a concomitant federal privilege exists. The Supreme Court has addressed the issue of journalists’ privilege under the First Amendment only once; in Branzburg v. Hayes, it left open the question of whether the First Amendment provides journalists with any privilege.
Date: September 28, 2007
Creator: Cohen, Henry & Ruane, Kathleen Ann
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Spectrum Use and the Transition to Digital TV

Description: This report examines Spectrum use in the United States and the transition to digital TV. Like most of the world, The United States, is moving to replace current television technology with a new, technically superior format generally referred to as digital television (DTV). As part of this transition, Congress has acted to move television broadcasters out of radio spectrum currently used for the old, analog technology. The vacated radio frequencies are now scheduled for release in accordance wit… more
Date: August 1, 2007
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act

Description: President George W. Bush signed the Postal Enhancement and Accountability Act (P.L. 109-435) on December 20, 2006. This report briefly describes Congress’s pursuit of postal reform, summarizes the major provisions of the new postal reform law, and identifies possible P.L. 109-435 oversight issues for Congress.
Date: January 22, 2007
Creator: Kosar, Kevin R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The FCC’s Authority to Regulate Net Neutrality After Comcast v. FCC

Description: This report provides information about The FCC’s Authority to Regulate Net Neutrality After Comcast v. FCC where a major debate over the government's role with respect to the internet is occurring.
Date: January 28, 2011
Creator: kathleen Ann Raune
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

FCC Media Ownership Rules: Current Status and Issues for Congress

Description: On June 2, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission modified five of its media ownership rules, easing restrictions on the ownership of multiple television stations and on local media cross-ownership, and tightening restrictions on the ownership of multiple radio stations in local markets.
Date: November 20, 2007
Creator: Goldfarb, Charles B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The FCC’s Authority to Regulate Net Neutrality After Comcast v. FCC

Description: This report provides information about The FCC’s Authority to Regulate Net Neutrality After Comcast v. FCC where a major debate over the government's role with respect to the internet is occurring.
Date: October 27, 2011
Creator: kathleen Ann Raune
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Emergency Communications: Broadband and the Future of 911

Description: This report discusses the Summary of 911 Legislation and Policy, Funding and Grants and National Broadband Plan.
Date: December 13, 2010
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Fairness Doctrine: History and Constitutional Issues

Description: This report will discuss the history of the Fairness Doctrine, enforcement of the doctrine by the FCC, abolition of it by the FCC, efforts to effect and to prevent its reinstatement, and potential constitutional issues with reinstating the doctrine as applied to broadcasters and as applied to satellite and cable television providers.
Date: July 13, 2011
Creator: Ruane, Kathleen Ann
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Digital Surveillance: The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act

Description: This report provides information about The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act on Digital Surveillance. CALEA is intended to preserve the ability of law enforcement officials to conduct electronic surveillance effectively and efficiently.
Date: March 30, 2009
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Obscenity, Child Pornography, and Indecency: Brief Background and Recent Developments

Description: The First Amendment provides that “Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. ...” The First Amendment applies, with two exceptions, to pornography, with that term being used to refer to any words or pictures of a sexual nature. This report discusses the two exceptions, which are obscenity and child pornography; because these are not protected by the First Amendment, they may be, and have been, made illegal. Pornography and “indecent” material that are prot… more
Date: October 6, 2009
Creator: Cohen, Henry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Speechwriting in Perspective: A Brief Guide to Effective and Persuasive Communication

Description: This report seeks to provide some guidance for congressional staff on the principles and practice of speechwriting. The suggestions offered herein, when combined with practice, attention to audience and occasion, and, most importantly, the Member’s attitudes, convictions, and style, can help create a speech that can be a “seamless garment” when delivered by the Member.
Date: April 12, 2007
Creator: Neale, Thomas H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Public Printing Reform: Issues and Actions

Description: The Government Printing Office (GPO) is designated the principal agent for almost all federal government printing. This report reviews recent legal, management, policy, and technological challenges to the GPO printing system and public printing reform efforts of the 105th, 106th, and current Congresses, and tracks current efforts to address existing problems in this area.
Date: May 10, 2002
Creator: Relyea, Harold C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Obscenity and Indecency: Constitutional Principles and Federal Statutes

Description: his report examines federal law regarding obscenity and indecency. The First Amendment provides: “Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” In general, the First Amendment protects pornography, with this term being used to mean any erotic material. The Supreme Court, however, has held that the First Amendment does not protect two types of pornography: obscenity and child pornography. Consequently, they may be banned on the basis of their content, and fede… more
Date: January 21, 2009
Creator: Cohen, Henry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Speechwriting in Perspective: A Brief Guide to Effective and Persuasive Communication

Description: “Rhetoric,” wrote Aristotle, “is the power of determining in a particular case what are the available means of persuasion.” This report reviews some effective means for the rhetoric of persuasive communication in speeches written by congressional staff for Senators and Representatives.
Date: February 25, 1998
Creator: Neale, Thomas H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

FCC Media Ownership Rules: Current Status and Issues for Congress

Description: This report analyzes each of the areas that has changed as a result of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) actions and Court decisions. The various positions in the debate also are summarized.
Date: December 13, 2006
Creator: Goldfarb, Charles B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Open Access Publishing and Citation Archives: Background and Controversy

Description: This report begins with an inventory of basic information: definitions and guides to histories of the growth of open access publishing and citation archives and descriptions of selected major open access activities. It moves on to summarize major points of difference between proponents and opponents of nongovernmental open access publishing and databases, and then highlights federal, including National Institutes of Health (NIH), open access activities and contentious issues surrounding these d… more
Date: October 10, 2006
Creator: Knezo, Genevieve J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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