Coalition Urges FCC To Move On Web-Based Broadcast Disclosure
John Eggerton -- Multichannel News, 8/5/2011 11:25:00 AM
The Public Interest Public Airwaves Coalition has asked the Federal Communications Commission to adopt the Future of Media report's recommendation for improved online disclosure of broadcaster public inspection files online.
The group wants the FCC to do away with paper forms and adopt a new online public file requirement. But in exchange for "vastly reduc[ing] the data submitted," the coalition wants broadcasters and the FCC to provide a more holistic view of station programming information in four categories, local news; local civic/governmental affairs; local electoral affairs; and closed captioning/emergency accessibility complaints.
In a letter to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, the coalition wrote that the commission should create a central database of such info with links to station Web sites, downloadable in raw form to the public and connected to ownership data the agency already collects (which would make it easier to associate ownership structure with the amount of that programming). If the FCC does that, according to group, broadcasters should not longer have to fill out a reporting form or maintain an issues/programs list.
The file should also contain any "pay for play" news and information programming, specifically any programming sponsorship that a broadcaster would have to disclose on-air per FCC rules.
The group provided a sample of their recommended online form.
"When the Reagan-era FCC deregulated the broadcasting license renewal process, it emphasized that the FCC's enforcement efforts would depend on input from the public," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, senior vice president and policy director, Media Access Project, in a statement. "These new disclosures will make sure that the system works as intended."
The coalition includes the Benton Foundation, Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, Free Press, MAP, New America Foundation, and the Office of Communication, Inc. of the United Church of Christ.
John Eggerton -- Multichannel News, 8/5/2011 11:25:00 AM
The Public Interest Public Airwaves Coalition has asked the Federal Communications Commission to adopt the Future of Media report's recommendation for improved online disclosure of broadcaster public inspection files online.
The group wants the FCC to do away with paper forms and adopt a new online public file requirement. But in exchange for "vastly reduc[ing] the data submitted," the coalition wants broadcasters and the FCC to provide a more holistic view of station programming information in four categories, local news; local civic/governmental affairs; local electoral affairs; and closed captioning/emergency accessibility complaints.
In a letter to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, the coalition wrote that the commission should create a central database of such info with links to station Web sites, downloadable in raw form to the public and connected to ownership data the agency already collects (which would make it easier to associate ownership structure with the amount of that programming). If the FCC does that, according to group, broadcasters should not longer have to fill out a reporting form or maintain an issues/programs list.
The file should also contain any "pay for play" news and information programming, specifically any programming sponsorship that a broadcaster would have to disclose on-air per FCC rules.
The group provided a sample of their recommended online form.
"When the Reagan-era FCC deregulated the broadcasting license renewal process, it emphasized that the FCC's enforcement efforts would depend on input from the public," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, senior vice president and policy director, Media Access Project, in a statement. "These new disclosures will make sure that the system works as intended."
The coalition includes the Benton Foundation, Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, Free Press, MAP, New America Foundation, and the Office of Communication, Inc. of the United Church of Christ.