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 "Federal Communications Commission" ...
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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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Anti-Terror Funds Buy Wide Array of Pet Projects
The Washington Post traced the path of the region's first wave of homeland security aid from its distribution through its final use, a trail that has been largely unexamined by federal regulators. The reporters found that much of the $324 million directed to the Washington region after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks remained unspent or was funding projects with questionable connections to homeland security. The analysis included a review of contracts, grant proposals, and purchasing databases. Results showed millions were spent on items such as leather jackets for police officers.
Tags: anti-terrorism; anti-terrorism funds; terrorism; homeland security; Prince George's County prosecutors; Congress; The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; World Trade Center; Pentagon; Department of Homeland Security; Bethesda-Chevy Chase Fire Squad; Tom Ridge; District of Columbia Hospital Association; Psychiatric Institute of Washington; Kroll Government Services; bioterrorism; Prince William County; D.C. Department of Mental Health; D.C. Emergency Management Agency; anthrax; Montgomery County; Fairfax County; Federal Communications Commission
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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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BioPulse Clinic Shut Down
The story looks into the "medical" practices of BioPulse International, a company that offers alternative treatments to cancer patients in its Tijuana clinic. Reports from respected medical professionals and also from patients that followed the treatments signal that, despite the promises of the BioPulse doctors and the money the patients paid, their condition was unchanged if not worse. A sustained PR campaign (with what now seams misleading information) has also boosted share prices of the company. Following the article Mexican authorities have closed the clinic and the US Federal Trade Commission opened an investigation.
Tags: BioPulse; biotechnology; cancer; alternative treatments; cancer vaccine; insulin induced coma; FTC; Tijuana; Liviakis Financial Communications
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A Call for Help; Mad as Hell
Forbes looks at the "crummy call quality" provided by the cell-phone industry. The two-story package finds that this results from too much competition in the sector, which has made cell-phone calls in America the cheapest in the world, but has also clogged the U.S. network and ruined the business of the largest carriers. The analysis reveals that "new cell towers are only being added fast enough to handle one-third" of the growth in customer rolls. Tables with data on poorly served cities and areas, as well as a ranking of the top carriers, are also included in the package.
Tags: At&T; Sprint; Verizon; Cingular; Nextel; VoiceStream; Federal Communication Commission (FCC); telecommunications; coverage; deregulation
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The Big Telecom Disconnect
The Wall Street Journal investigates the reasons for the rising prices of telephone and cable services. The story packet finds that five years after the Telecommunications Reform Act was passed in 1996, "business customers have been the only beneficiaries." Among the main findings is that "the Baby bells and the cable-TV operators have the country pretty much to themselves, enjoying lucrative monopolies in most areas."
Tags: technology; Federal Communication Commission; SBC Communications; AT&T Corp.; AOL Time Warner; Verizon communications; Winstar Communications; competition; wireless; long-distance; Internet access
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Double Image
Eddie Edwards is one of the few minority owners in the broadcast arena. He worked closely with Sinclair Broadcasting, who helped bring him into the business. But the business dealings have garnered scrutiny by the FCC and critics who see Sinclair dollars and programming flowing through Edward's Glencairn Ltd. Rainbow/PUSH alleges that Edwards is a minority figurehead that allowed Sinclair to manage a duopoly. Now that the FCC rules have relaxed, Edwards is trying to sell his stations to Sinclair, but the FCC has yet to grant approval.
Tags: Jesse Jackson; Federal Communications Commission; race; minority; NABOB; National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters; radio; television; Glencairn
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Rating the E-rate
Education Week's comprehensive report on school technology looks at the Federal Communications Commission's education-rate program, which pays for telecommunications services for the nation's K-12 schools and public libraries. Helpful sidebars and explanatory graphs make this is a must for education reporters.
Tags: Schools; school technology; FCC