4A's – See, American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA).  

Fairness Doctrine – The rule repealed in 1987 by the FCC that required broadcasters to devote airtime to important controversial issues and to air contrasting views on those issues.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – An independent U.S. government agency, reporting to Congress, charged with enforcing the Communications Act of 1934.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – An independent U.S. government agency, reporting to Congress, responsible for promoting competition and preventing unfair or deceptive practices in commerce.

Fiber Optics – Transmission lines made of thin glass fibers optimized to carry light waves. Since the frequency of light is higher than radio, more information may be carried.

Financial Interest and Syndication Rules (Fin-Syn) – Rules adopted by the FCC in 1970 that prohibited the broadcast networks from owning or controlling the rebroadcast of prime time network shows. After one of the longest running political battles in broadcast regulatory history, the rules were repealed in 1995. (For a more complete accounting of Fin-Syn, see Les Brown’s Encyclopedia of Television, 3d ed.)

Firewall – Software or hardware that protects a private network from the public. The purpose of a firewall is to keep unauthorized outsiders from tampering with a computer system, thereby increasing a server's security.

First-run Syndication – Original programs produced expressly for distribution in syndication, as opposed to network or off-network series whose reruns pass into the syndication market.

Footprint – The geographic area on earth in which a satellite signal can be received.

Fragmentation (Audience) – The increasing number of audience subdivisions which, together, constitute total TV usage. Television audiences are said to be fragmented, for example, across a broad spectrum of video sources: nine broadcast networks, more than 50 cable networks, hundreds of syndicated programs, new DBS services, VCR and video game usage, Internet usage, etc.

Frame – A list, file or some other instrument for identifying the sampling units that have a chance of being selected for a research sample. For example, a list of telephone numbers or housing units.

Frames – A term used to describe the viewing and layout style of a Web site. Frames refer to the simultaneous loading of two or more Web pages within the same screen.

Franchise – A contract between state and /or local government and a cable television service awarding the right to install cable service in a community.

Franchise Area – A geographic area awarded to a cable company as a result of its application to the local government. The area is used for providing cable television to paying subscribers.

Frequency – (1)The average number of times households or persons viewed a given program, station or advertisement during a specific time period, such as one month. This number is derived by dividing the Gross Rating Points (GRP) by the total non-duplicated audience (cume). For example, if a group of programs achieved 30 GRP's and a cume of 20, then the average frequency would be 1.5 exposures per person or household. (2) A measure of Internet usage. Frequency can be expressed either in average minutes per user per month, or in average page views per month. Average minutes per user per month measures the average amount of time that the average visitor to the site spends on the site during the month. Average page views represents the average number of pages of pages on a Web site or properly viewed by the average visitor to the site during the month. (Source: eyada.com)

Frequency Distribution – The number or percentage of individuals or households that were re-exposed to a program, station or advertisement one time, two tomes, three times, etc.

Frequency Modulation (FM) – See, Modulation

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