§  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.

   (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) [Reserved]

   (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
   § 0.283.

   (l) To coordinate with the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
   on all matters affecting public safety, homeland security, national
   security, emergency management, disaster management, and related
   issues.

   [ 67 FR 13217 , Mar. 21, 2002, as amended at  71 FR 69034 , Nov. 29, 2006;
    84 FR 9465 , Mar. 15, 2019]

   

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