The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "FCC" ...
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Suspicions and Spies in Silicon Valley
This investigation details the Hewlett-Packard spying scandal. It discusses how the obsession of HP chairman Patricia Dunn to root out the source of press leaks from the boardroom led to covert tracking of directors' phone records. That surveillance eventually led to Dunn's resignation and indictment by the state of California.
Tags: technology; computers; corporate intelligence; business; corporate ethics; SEC; FCC; FTC; Justice Department
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Networks of Influence
This investigation revealed the communication industry has spent $1.1 billion since 1998 to obtain political influence--more than twice a much as the oil and gas industry spent. Money spent on supporting candidates, lobbying, junkets and the practice of government officials leaving their jobs to work for the industries they used to regulate were all scrutinized. While broadcasters usually spent and equal amount of money supporting republicans and democrats, Sinclair Broadcasting Group spent more than 95% on republicans only. Detailed graphs included make the story easy to understand.
Tags: On-line; FCC; Federal Communications Commission; telecommunications; broadcast; political influence; lobby; television; radio; junket; Telecommunications Act of 1996; General Electric; Sinclair; Time Warner
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Computer Games
This investigation found that government subsidized technology programs for schools were being poorly implemented in Houston. The reporters found "evidence of falsified documents, overcharging and unused equipment." In some cases, people with no understanding of technology were approving major installations; sometimes those people were taken advantage of and overcharged.
Tags: E-Rate; FCC; Houston Independent School District; education; grants; computer cabling
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E-Rate Investigation
This story looks at a purchase of almost 1.5 million dollars of questionable software. Some schools in Florida were over stating their need for funds affecting poorer children who could do with the money. The money was used to purchase computer software and machines but the amount spent on the actual buying and the need for such equipment was not warranted for.
Tags: schools; districts in Florida; schools in Florida; FCC audit; E-Rate computer software; computer software; poverty figures of schools; E-Rate purchases
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"Politicians' Telecoms Wronged Consumers"; QAI: A legacy of success or slams?; Commerce official's past includes telecom trouble
This special report by the Pioneer Press exposes ties between the Governor and Auditor of Minnesota and New Access Communications, a telephone company accused of fraud. According to the report, Gov. Tim Pawlenty was a director of NewTel Holdings, New Access' parent company, when complaints were filed against New Access. The complaints accused New Access of "overcharging some customers and tricking others into changing their telephone services." Auditor Patricia Awada was the owner of Capitol Verification, which was a company designed to verify that customers really wanted to change their phone service. However, according to the report, Awada's company did not always complete that goal.
Tags: FOIA; Investigating politicians; Fraud; FCC; New Access Communications
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Will Your Cell Phone Reach 911?
Consumer Reports found that many calls to 911 made on cell phones never go through. Through an extensive polling process and many interviews, the authors found that approximately fifteen percent of their subscribers had had trouble reaching 911 on cell phones. The article offers suggestions for how the FCC could improve the situation.
Tags: cell phones; 911; emergency assistance; FCC; GPS
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Well Connected
This is a series of stories on media ownership in hometowns of each of the five FCC commissioners. The articles cover information including profiles of the 44 largest telecommunication companies in America, profit information, stock holdings of directors and salaries of top officials. The stories uncover the amounts being spent on FCC officials on travel and entertainment. It also shows how the FCC relies on data provided by the private industry while making decisions that are supposed to be in the public interest.
Tags: Federal Communications Commission; Media Ownership; Telecommunications
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Local phone companies put customer service on hold, critics charge
According to the article, "Across the nation, complaints against local phone companies are rising sharply as customers deal with long delays in getting their phones connected, missed appointments for home calls and other poor service. The Federal Communications Commission, which recently held a forum on the issue, says complaints rose 82 percent for the first half of 1999, compared with a year earlier."
Tags: phone; phone companies; local phone service; FCC; Federal Communications Commission; delays; problems; complaints; service
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FCC is set to adopt tough new measures to curtail 'slamming'
According to this brief article, "The government is expected to adopt tougher rules to reduce illegal 'slamming,' in which telephone companies switch customers' long-distance service without their consent. The biggest change expected from the FCC today is a plan to exempt victims of slamming from paying any long-distance phone charges to the offending company for period of time, probably 30 days."
Tags: FCC; slamming; phone companies; telecommunications; phone service; long distance; Federal Communications Commission
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Hanging up on the telemarketers
There are laws regulating telemarketing and even ways to get rid of telemarketers' calls, but other devices have gotten around the rules and telemarketing is growing.
Tags: telemarketers; federal telemarketing rules; "Do Not Call" rule; FTC; FCC