Federal Communications Commission

Several big cable television companies seeking to overturn a group of government regulations lost a round on Friday in appellate court. Time Warner Entertainment Co., Discovery Communications and the Learning Channel argued that Federal Communications Commission rules dictated by the Cable Act of 1992 violate the companies' rights to freedom of speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment. The U.S.

With a unanimous vote that belied three years of opposition by the TV industry, the Federal Communications Commission last week passed guidelines requiring broadcasters to air three hours of educational programming for children per week. The move--the first public-interest requirements on broadcasters in 20 years--was hailed by President Clinton and children's TV advocates. But what exactly is "educational" programming as defined by the new guidelines?

Ending a three-year fight, the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved rules requiring television stations to provide three hours of educational programming for children a week beginning next year. The rules--which broadcasters had opposed until pressured by Congress and President Clinton--are the first public-interest requirements passed by the FCC in two decades.

It's the V-chip redux. Just as pressure from politicians and the public forced the TV industry to capitulate in its opposition to a ratings system that would help parents guide their children's viewing habits, it now appears that broadcasters are losing ground in the battle to stave off how much educational programming they must provide for youngsters.

At the Federal Communication Commission's headquarters in Washington, the Complaints and Investigations Branch for years has been inundated with audiotapes, correspondence and legal briefs pertaining to Howard Stern and his syndicated radio show. Thousands of letters, faxes, postcards, telephone messages and mass-produced petitions are indexed, numbered and affixed to copies of the replies mailed by the FCC. If Infinity Broadcasting Corp.

The top communications industry regulator vowed Monday to have the new telecommunications law in place ahead of schedule, as regulators geared up to oversee huge changes in the phone, cable TV and broadcast industries. Despite budget cuts, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt also promised that other FCC work will not suffer as a result of the new chores generated by the bill, which was signed into law last week by President Clinton.

Several South County cities are appealing a Federal Communications Commission rate settlement with cable television operator Cox Communications. The cities are frustrated over a September decision by the FCC to approve a blanket refund of $8.81 per household by Cox to satisfy complaints from the company's U.S. cable franchises. In their appeal, the cities claim Cox continued billing customers for extra cable-TV outlets in their homes after a 1994 FCC decision eliminated such charges.

In the parlance of Washington, last week's overhaul of communications law is a "revolution." To others the sweeping reform points to the information superhighway. Beyond the rhetoric lies the reality we will experience in our homes and offices. As telephone companies, broadcasters and cable TV operators are allowed to enter each others' markets, there will be changes in how we work, play and live.