U.S. Television Regulator Doesn’t Own a TV Set

WASHINGTON — Harold Furchtgott-Roth is one of the nation’s top five television regulators. But he doesn’t own a TV set.

“Look, I’ve got five children. We have no shortage of live entertainment in my house,” said Furchtgott-Roth, one of five members of the Federal Communications Commission.

One of four new commissioners, Furchtgott-Roth told reporters that he watches television at the FCC office. His favorite shows: sports.

The FCC licenses TV and radio broadcasters and makes sure TV stations comply with various regulations, from airing three hours of educational shows a week for children to offering low-cost ads to political candidates.

Asked whether not having a TV at home would interfere with his job performance, Furchtgott-Roth responded: “If something requires my watching a program, I’ll watch the program.”

The new FCC members will make decisions affecting millions of TV viewers.

For instance, they’ll decide what digital broadcasters owe the public in return for using the nation’s airwaves; consider proposals to further deregulate the TV industry; and adopt standards to let people block unwanted shows from their TV sets.

“Some people might say that because I don’t own a TV, maybe I’m a little more at arm’s length, a little more detached in some way,” he said.

Furchtgott-Roth, who turns 41 this month, said he owns “lots of radios” and has a home computer that is not hooked up to the Internet, another area the FCC has been taking increasing interest in.

He wouldn’t say why he doesn’t have a TV.