The Federal Trade Commission will hold a two-day roundtable this week, on 7/29/08 and 7/30/08, to celebrate its accomplishments over the course of its 100 years of existence and to try to figure out what to do during the next 100 years. Although the FCC is the go-to government agency when it comes to regulating broadcasters, the FTC has been known to get into the act, particularly in matters of advertising, consumer protection and antitrust.
RBR/TVBR observation: Alexander Grahm Bell famously used the very first telephone call to deliver the message, “Mr. Watson – come here – I want to see you.” The next day, according to legend, Mr. Watson asked to be included on the Do Not Call Registry. The fact of the matter is that one of the best things about the FTC is the fact that it rarely delves into the business affairs of broadcasters. Now if only we could get the FCC to follow suit…
