A study examined the extent to which the violation of any one of more than 20 deleted Federal Communications Commission "underbrush" rules or policies (minor rules and policy statements) might result in a threat to the violator's broadcast license. All of the deleted policies and regulations, the criminal codes of California, Florida, New York, Texas, and Indiana, and the FCC's current character standards were examined. Results indicated that only six of the more than 20 deleted rules or policies treat activities which might lead to the types of criminal convictions now considered probative of licensee character. Results also indicated that the activities described in the other deleted policies, though possibly illegal, unethical, or poor business practice, do not rise to the level of severity that the current Commission considers relevant in judging the character qualifications of public trustees. Findings suggest that only when the Commission begins its implementation of the new character standards will a clearer picture emerge of whether anything remains of the public's interest in being served by honest and principled broadcasters. (One hundred forty-two notes are included.) (RS)