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On 8 February 1996, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Telecommunications Act of 1996 ("Act"), the most extensive rewrite of U.S. telecommunications law since the Communications Act of 1934. The Act addresses the gamut of communications media, including: local and long distance telecommunications services, cable television, broadcasting, on-line computer services, and manufacturing of telecommunications equipment. The Act's emphasis is to open various segments of the industry to competition. While ordering the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct over 80 rulemakings, several...

On 14 February 1996 the Eurpean Parliament adopted a resolution on the proposal of the European Commission to amend the Directive on 'Television without Frontiers' ( see: IRIS 1995-7: 4). The resolution approves the Commission's proposal subject to Parliament's amendments (covering a wide range of issues, from the scope of application of the Directive to the provisions on quotas and protection of minors). The main points are the following: - Article 1, a): the EP includes audiovisual services "on demand" in the definition of "television broadcasting". - Article 2: the EP foresees a detailed...

The attitudes of UK viewers towards nudity in television advertising are explored in a comprehensive research report, published on 2 November 1995 by the Independent Television Commission. The study reveals a range of opinion within the TV audience on what does or does not consitute acceptable levels of nudity in advertising. Yet the researchers found no evidence to support the view that current standards were widely regarded as too liberal, even for those sections of the audience with the strongest reservations in this area. The study confirms that viewers' acceptance of material cannot be based...

On 14 January 1996, the Supreme Court of the United States refused to review a decision of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which had upheld an FCC rule allowing `indecent' (i.e., pornographic) material to be broadcast on radio and television only between midnight and 06.00 am (the so-called "safe harbour" period). The FCC rule was in response to an Act of Congress, which had required the FCC to adopt such a regulation, and had been sponsored by Senator Jessy Helms. The Circuit Court had reasoned that the rule was a reasonable response to the fact that children often are in the...

The Administrative Court in Frankfurt-am-Main recently upheld the decision of the regional Private Broadcasting Authority of Hesse forbidding the private television channel RTL 2 to show the "World Wrestling Federation" programme before 21.00. In so doing, it gave protection of the young priority over the interests of the broadcaster. RTL 2s appeal against this decision was rejected by the Administrative Court of Appeal in Kassel. The court considers showing of the "wrestling programme" in the afternoon (16.00-17.00) a danger to young people. The decision is based on Section 21, sub-section 2,...