US: FCC’s Hundt suffers setback

Reed Hundt, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has suffered a setback in his efforts to start an investigation into spirits advertising on television. Two fellow regulators are attempting to block Hundt’s efforts. They are Rachelle Chong and James Quello, both commissioners with the FCC. They have said that such an investigation is beyond the FCC’s jurisdiction and should be handled by the Federal Trade Commission; the FTC is currently conducting such an investigation.

Meanwhile, the FCC is reported to be considering using V-chip filtering technology to prevent alcohol advertising on TV. The FCC has issued a notice of inquiry stating that V-chip technology “suggests the possibility of a similar mechanism to restrict the display of distilled spirits advertising.”