Newton Minow, FCC Chairman Who Criticized TV, Dies at 97.
Newton N. Minow, former F.C.C. chairman who famously called American television "a vast wasteland" in 1961, died at the age of 97. His speech ignited a national debate over the quality of programming and led to increased regulatory pressures on broadcasters. Minow's contributions to the F.C.C. also included efforts to expand TV programming diversity and the creation of legislation that opened the era of satellite communications. He continued to campaign for programming reforms and played important roles in the development of televised presidential debates.