Nicholas Johnson
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Johnson is best known for his controversial term as a dissenting Federal Communications Commission
commissioner, 1966-1973, and his book, How to Talk Back to Your Television Set. He currently teaches at the University of Iowa College of Law
, with an emphasis on communications and Internet
law, and blogs at FromDC2Iowa.blogspot.com.
In addition to How to Talk Back to Your Television Set (Little-Brown; Bantam, 1970) and Test Pattern for Living (Bantam, 1972), he is the author of Your Second Priority: A Former FCC Commissioner Speaks Out (2008), Are We There Yet: Reflections on Politics in America (2008), What Do You Mean and How Do You Know? An Antidote for the Language That Does Our Thinking for Us (2009), and Virtualosity: Eight Students in Search of Cyberlaw (2009).
His Who’s Who in America entry, full biographical description, 300-page bibliography, and links to the full text of his books, F.C.C. opinions, many articles, and all publications, speeches and other documents since 1996 – among other things – are available from his Web site, www.nicholasjohnson.org.
Johnson was born (1934) and raised in Iowa
, to which he returned in 1980. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin
, served as law clerk to U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, Judge John R. Brown and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo L. Black. He began his law teaching career at the University of California, Berkeley
, practiced with Covington & Burling
, Washington, and held three presidential appointments, including Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration
, and F.C.C. commissioner. Following the F.C.C. service he chaired the National Citizens Committee for Broadcasting in Washington, and ran for Congress from Iowa’s Third Congressional District.
In 1972 Canadian filmmaker Red Burns, who'd served on the National Film Board of Canada
(NFB)'s Challenge For Change
and George C. Stoney
, who'd likewise served a guest role, worked with Johnson to make the FCC Public-access television
cable TV requirements. In the book "How to Talk Back to Your Television Set," Johnson discusses prototype community media. He appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone
#79, April 1, 1971.
He hosted the PBS program, “New Tech Times,” wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column, “Communications Watch,” and lectured through the Leigh Lecture Bureau during the early 1980s. He became involved in online education in the mid-1980s, when he taught for the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute and Connected Education
. He has served as co-director of Iowa’s public health organization, the Institute for Health, Behavior and Environmental Policy, as commissioner with the Iowa City Broadband and Telecommunications Commission, and school board member of the Iowa City Community School District.
He has traveled and lectured in many countries, and served on numerous boards and advisory boards, such as Common Cause
(national board), World Academy of Art and Science (executive board), Volunteers in Technical Assistance (board), and Project Censored
(editorial judge).
In 2009 he was included in The Yale Biographical Dictionary of American Law as one of 700 individuals described by the publisher as "leading figures in the history of American law, from the colonial era to the present day."
Details available at http://www.nicholasjohnson.org.
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
commissioner, 1966-1973, and his book, How to Talk Back to Your Television Set. He currently teaches at the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
, with an emphasis on communications and Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
law, and blogs at FromDC2Iowa.blogspot.com.
In addition to How to Talk Back to Your Television Set (Little-Brown; Bantam, 1970) and Test Pattern for Living (Bantam, 1972), he is the author of Your Second Priority: A Former FCC Commissioner Speaks Out (2008), Are We There Yet: Reflections on Politics in America (2008), What Do You Mean and How Do You Know? An Antidote for the Language That Does Our Thinking for Us (2009), and Virtualosity: Eight Students in Search of Cyberlaw (2009).
His Who’s Who in America entry, full biographical description, 300-page bibliography, and links to the full text of his books, F.C.C. opinions, many articles, and all publications, speeches and other documents since 1996 – among other things – are available from his Web site, www.nicholasjohnson.org.
Johnson was born (1934) and raised in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, to which he returned in 1980. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, served as law clerk to U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, Judge John R. Brown and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo L. Black. He began his law teaching career at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, practiced with Covington & Burling
Covington & Burling
Covington & Burling LLP is an international law firm with offices in Beijing, Brussels, London, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San Diego, and Washington, DC. The firm advises multinational corporations on significant transactional, litigation, regulatory, and public policy matters...
, Washington, and held three presidential appointments, including Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration
U.S. Maritime Administration
The United States Maritime Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation that maintains the National Defense Reserve Fleet as a ready source of ships for use during national emergencies, and assists the NDRF in fulfilling its role as the nation's fourth arm of...
, and F.C.C. commissioner. Following the F.C.C. service he chaired the National Citizens Committee for Broadcasting in Washington, and ran for Congress from Iowa’s Third Congressional District.
In 1972 Canadian filmmaker Red Burns, who'd served on the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
(NFB)'s Challenge For Change
Challenge for Change
Challenge for Change was a participatory film and video project created by the National Film Board of Canada in 1967, the Canadian Centennial...
and George C. Stoney
George C. Stoney
George C. Stoney is a professor of film and cinema studies at New York University , and a pioneer in the field of documentary film. Stoney directed several influential films including All My Babies and How the Myth Was Made...
, who'd likewise served a guest role, worked with Johnson to make the FCC Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV requirements. In the book "How to Talk Back to Your Television Set," Johnson discusses prototype community media. He appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
#79, April 1, 1971.
He hosted the PBS program, “New Tech Times,” wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column, “Communications Watch,” and lectured through the Leigh Lecture Bureau during the early 1980s. He became involved in online education in the mid-1980s, when he taught for the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute and Connected Education
Connected Education
Connected Education - also known as Connect Ed - was a pioneering online education organization founded and administered by Paul Levinson and TinaVozick. Operating from 1985 to 1997, Connect Ed offered the M.A. degrees in Media Studies Connected Education - also known as Connect Ed - was a...
. He has served as co-director of Iowa’s public health organization, the Institute for Health, Behavior and Environmental Policy, as commissioner with the Iowa City Broadband and Telecommunications Commission, and school board member of the Iowa City Community School District.
He has traveled and lectured in many countries, and served on numerous boards and advisory boards, such as Common Cause
Common Cause
Common Cause is a self-described nonpartisan, nonprofit lobby and advocacy organization. It was founded in 1970 by John W. Gardner, a Republican former cabinet secretary under Lyndon Johnson, as a "citizens' lobby" with a mission focused on making U.S. political institutions more open and...
(national board), World Academy of Art and Science (executive board), Volunteers in Technical Assistance (board), and Project Censored
Project Censored
Project Censored is a non-profit, media criticism and investigative journalism project within the Sonoma State University Foundation. It is managed through the School of Social Sciences at the university....
(editorial judge).
In 2009 he was included in The Yale Biographical Dictionary of American Law as one of 700 individuals described by the publisher as "leading figures in the history of American law, from the colonial era to the present day."
Details available at http://www.nicholasjohnson.org.