Sec.  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) Administer and enforce rules and policies regarding equal employment
   opportunity.

   (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  Sec. 0.283.

   [ 67 FR 13217 , Mar. 21, 2002]

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