Congressional Research Service Reports - 438 Matching Results
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- Seafarer: Extremely Low Frequency Naval Communications System
- No Description Available.
- Commerical Television Broadcasting: An Economic Analysis of Its Structure and Competitive Alternatives
- This report analyzes the economic structure of both the conventional commercial television broadcasting industry as well as the significant commercial competitive alternatives. Federal Communications Commission policies and their effect on the competitive structure and development of the television industry are also discussed.
- The Telecommunications Act of 1982 (H.R. 5158, 97th Congress): Provisions and Controversies
- No Description Available.
- Proposals for Revision of the Communications Act of 1934: Telecommunications Issues
- No Description Available.
- A Glossary of Selected Telecommunications Terms
- The following glossary provides short definitions and descriptions of selected telecommunications terminology, agencies, and organizations, as well as a listing of key laws and Federal Communications Commission regulations and decisions.
- Political Broadcasts - Regulate or Deregulate?
- No Description Available.
- The American Telephone and Telegraph Divestiture: Background, Provisions, and Restructuring
- On January 1, 1984, The American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) divested itself of a major portion of its organizational structure and functions. Under the post-divestiture environment the once fully-integrated Bell System is now reorganized into the "new" AT&T and seven Ladependent regional holding companies -- American Information Technologies Corp., 3ell Atlantic Corp., 3ell- South Corp., NYNEX Corp., Pacific Telesis Group., Southwestern Bell Corp., and U.S. West, Inc. The following analysis provides an overview of the pre- and post-divestiture organizational structure and details the evolution of the antitrust action which resulted in this divestiture.
- Radio Marti
- No Description Available.
- AT and T Divestiture: Restructuring the U.S. Domestic Telephone Industry
- On January 8, 1982, the Justice Department and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company announced the settlement of the Government's seven year old antitrust suit against AT&T. Nineteen months later, in August 1983, U.S. District Court Judge Harold Greene gave final approval to the AT& T divestiture agreement. The breakup of AT&T will affect every aspect of the U.S. domestic telephone industry from the yellow pages to the manufacture of telephones. AT&T officially spun off its 22 local operating companies into seven regional phone companies on January 1, 1984. This Info Pack focuses on the Department of Justice settlement with AT&T and how the resulting divestiture will affect the U.S. domestic telephone industry.
- Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages: Should a Radio and TV Ban be Imposed?
- This issue brief discusses the ongoing debate centered around television and radio advertising of alcoholic beverages, especially as it relates to the possible negative influence on the drinking habits of minors.
- Obscenity: A Legal Primer
- This report provides an overview of the present law of obscenity and pornography, with emphasis on the following topics: (1) the legal definition of obscenity; (2) the constitutionality of restrictive zoning laws; (3) federal authority to legislate in this area; (4) child pornography; (5) regulation of the broadcast media in this context; (6) obscenity and cable television; (7) obscene prerecorded messages; (8) seizure of obscene materials; and .(9) pornography as a form of sex discrimination.
- Telephone Industry Issues
- No Description Available.
- Telephone Industry Residential Subscriber Line Charges and the Lifeline Option
- No Description Available.
- China/Asia Broadcasting: Proposals for New U.S. Surrogate Services
- Two groups -- the President's Task Force on U.S. International Broadcasting (December 1991) and the Commission on Broadcasting to the People's Republic of China (September 1992) -- have both recommended that the United States increase broadcasting to China and other Communist countries in Asia, although the panels split on significant points for implementing their recommendations
- Radio and Television Broadcasting to Cuba: Background and Current Issues
- This report provides a legislative history and funding levels for Cuba Broadcasting. It discusses specific concerns some lawmakers have had with Radio and TV Marti over the years, and presents the Panel's recommendations and the USIA Director's response and determinations, as required by the FYI994 appropriations act.
- How to Obtain Copies of Videotapes of Proceedings of Congress and Network and Cable Television Broadcasts
- This report has been compiled in response to numerous requests made by congressional offices for videotape copies of congressional proceedings and programs from network or cable television
- Free and Reduced-Rate Television Time for Potential Candidates
- This report provides an overview of free and reduced-rate TV time and discusses the policy, constitutional, and legal issues it raises.
- Terrorism, the Media, and the Government: Perspectives, Trends, and Options for Policymakers
- Terrorists, governments, and the media see the function, roles and responsibilities of the media when covering terrorist events from differing and often competing perspectives. Such perspectives drive behavior during terrorist incidents--often resulting in both tactical and strategic gains to the terrorist operation and the overall terrorist cause. The challenge to both the governmental and press communities is to understand the dynamics of terrorist enterprise and to develop policy options designed to serve the interests of government, the media, and the society.
- Radio Free Asia
- No Description Available.
- V-Chip and TV Ratings: Helping Parents Supervise Their Children's Television Viewing
- To assist parents in supervising the television viewing habits of their children, Congress included a provision in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104) that television sets with screens 13 inches or larger sold in the United States be equipped with a "V-chip" to screen out objectionable programming. A V-chip is a computer chip that can detect program rating information that is transmitted with the television signal (broadcast or cable) and block the display of programs designated as unacceptable by parents. The use of the V-chip by parents is optional. In March 1998, the Federal Communications Commission approved technical standards for the V-chip and directed that manufacturers include V-chip technology in at least half of their product models by July 1, 1999, and the other half by January 1, 2000. At the same time, the Commission approved a program rating system developed and now used by most of the television industry. An age-based rating system was announced in December 1996.
- Radiofrequency Spectrum Management
- The radio spectrum, a limited and valuable resource, is used for all forms of wireless communications including cellular telephony, paging, personal communications service, radio, and television broadcast, telephone radio relay, aeronautical and maritime radio navigation, and satellite command and control.
- Satellite Television License of the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. Section 119) and the 1997 Rate Adjustment
- This report summarizes the basic features of the television satellite compulsory license of the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. 119), including the rate adjustment procedures; reviews the October 1997 rate adjustment setting the current 27-cent per signal per month per subscriber rate; and summarizes recent legislative proposals to stay further implementation of the 1997 rate adjustment, or to revise the section 119 license.
- Television Satellite and Cable Retransmission of Broadcast Video Programming Under the Copyright Act’s Compulsory Licenses
- This report reviews the history and background of the cable and television satellite licenses of the Copyright Act, reviews the Satellite Home Viewer Act of 1994, and notes recent developments, including: the 1997 satellite license rate adjustment; pending bills relating to the compulsory licenses; and the August 1997 report of the Copyright Office on these licenses.
- The "E-Rate" Program and Controversies
- Passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104) codified the long standing policy commitment to ensure universal service in the provision of telecommunications services. The 1996 Act also expanded the concept to include, among other principles, that elementary schools and classrooms, and libraries should have access to telecommunications services for educational purposes at discounted rates. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was tasked with implementing the universal provisions of the Act and on May 7, 1997, adopted its order detailing its guidelines.
- Telephone Excise Tax
- No Description Available.
- E-Rate for Schools: Background on Telecommunications Discounts Through the Universal Service Fund
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about telecommunications discounts through the Universal Service Fund, in regards to E-rate for schools. Topics include, impacts on education, current level of access, available federal assistance, application and award process, etc..
- Low Power FM Radio Service: Regulatory and Congressional Issues
- No Description Available.
- Telecommunications Services Trade and the WTO Agreement
- No Description Available.
- Telecommunications Discounts for Schools and Libraries: The "E-Rate" Program and Controversies
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about the E-rate program and controversies in regards to telecommunications discounts for schools and libraries. Topics include, recent developments, scope and funding, program status, etc.
- Third Generation ("3G") Mobile Wireless Technologies and Services
- No Description Available.
- Satellite Television: An Analysis of Legislation Creating Loan Guarantees for Providing Local Broadcast TV Signals
- No Description Available.
- The Telephone Excise Tax: Revenues, Effects, and Repeal Proposals
- No Description Available.
- V-Chip and TV Ratings: Helping Parents Supervise Their Children's Television Viewing
- No Description Available.
- “Junk E-mail”: An Overview of Issues and Legislation Concerning Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail (“Spam”)
- This report discusses unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE), also called “spam” or “junk e-mail.” Not only can it be a nuisance, but its cost may be passed on to consumers through higher charges from Internet service providers who must upgrade their systems to handle the traffic.
- “Junk E-mail”: An Overview of Issues and Legislation Concerning Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail (“Spam”)
- This report discusses unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE), also called “spam” or “junk e-mail.” Not only can it be a nuisance, but its cost may be passed on to consumers through higher charges from Internet service providers who must upgrade their systems to handle the traffic.
- "Junk E-mail": An Overview of Issues and Legislation Concerning Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail ("Spam")
- Unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE), also called “spam” or “junk e-mail,” aggravates many computer users. Not only can it be a nuisance, but its cost may be passed on to consumers through higher charges from Internet service providers who must upgrade their systems to handle the traffic. Proponents of UCE insist it is a legitimate marketing technique and protected by the First Amendment. Legislation to place limits on UCE was considered by the last two Congresses, but no bill cleared Congress. Several bills have been introduced in the 107th Congress. H.R. 718 was reported from the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary Committee (H. Rept. 107-41, Parts 1 and 2). The two versions are quite different. S. 630 was ordered reported from the Senate Commerce Committee.
- Telecommunications Discounts for Schools and Libraries: The "E-Rate" Program and Controversies
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about the E-rate program and controversies in regards to telecommunications discounts for schools and libraries. Topics include, recent developments, scope and funding, program status, etc.
- Telemarketing: Dealing With Unwanted Telemarketing Calls
- This report provides summaries of the federal laws and regulations particular to telemarketing, the establishment of a national do-not-call registry, and the options that are available to consumers to limit the calls that they receive from telemarketers and to report questionable telemarketing practices to local or federal authorities. The report also lists sources of additional information with addresses, phone numbers, and Internet sites (if available).
- Telephone Bills: Charges on Local Telephone Bills
- No Description Available.
- Digital Television: An Overview
- Digital television (DTV) is a new television service representing the most significant development in television technology since the advent of color television in the 1950s. DTV can provide sharper pictures, a wider screen, CD-quality sound, better color rendition, and other new services currently being developed. A successful deployment of DTV requires: the development by content providers of compelling digital programming; the delivery of digital signals to consumers by broadcast television stations, as well as cable and satellite television systems; and the widespread purchase and adoption by consumers of digital television equipment. A key issue in the Congressional debate over the digital transition has been addressing the millions of American over-the-air households whose existing analog televisions will require converter boxes in order to receive digital signals when the analog signal is turned off.
- Satellite Television: Provisions of SHVIA and LOCAL, and Continuing Issues
- No Description Available.
- Slamming: The Unauthorized Change of a Consumer's Telephone Service Provider
- No Description Available.
- Telecommunications Discounts for Schools and Libraries: The "E-Rate" Program and Controversies
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about the E-rate program and controversies in regards to telecommunications discounts for schools and libraries. Topics include, recent developments, scope and funding, program status, etc.
- Electronic Payments and the U.S. Payments System
- This report provides a framework for understanding the paper-based and electronic components of the current U.S. payments system. It begins with a basic overview of the payments system, explaining the relative size and growth of various methods of payment. The report discusses paper-based payments and then examines the operations of wholesale and retail electronic payments. Finally, the report discusses some of the major policy issues concerning the regulation and supervision of electronic payments.
- Electronic Congress: Proposals and Issues
- The events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent anthrax incidents have prompted some observers to suggest creating a capability for a virtual or electronic Congress (e-Congress) that could function in the event of an emergency. Currently, it is unclear exactly how an e-Congress would be constituted and operated; however, a proposal (H.R. 3481) has been introduced to require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to investigate the feasibility and costs of implementing a computer system for remote voting and communication for Congress to ensure business continuity for congressional operations.
- Meeting Public Safety Spectrum Needs
- No Description Available.
- Satellite Television: Provisions of SHVIA and LOCAL, and Continuing Issues
- No Description Available.
- Meeting Public Safety Spectrum Needs
- No Description Available.
- Slamming: The Unauthorized Change of a Consumer's Telephone Service Provider
- No Description Available.
- Telecommunications Discounts for Schools and Libraries: The "E-Rate" Program and Controversies
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about the E-rate program and controversies in regards to telecommunications discounts for schools and libraries. Topics include, recent developments, scope and funding, program status, etc.