Public Interest Groups Weigh In On Localism

The Public Interest Public Airwaves Coalition, Center for Creative Voices in Media, Free Press, and National Hispanic Media Coalition filed comments Monday on the Federal Communications Commission's proposed rules to promote localism in broadcasting. The groups want the FCC to require broadcasters that want expedited license renewals to set aside 1% of their airtime for unpaid public service announcements, have no more than 30% of their airtime be infomercials or home shopping, and air a "reasonable amount" of independently produced programming (at least 25% of a network affiliates' primetime devoted to programming in which the network owns more than a one-third interest in the show or controls the copyright). The groups want the Commission to require more programming about local elections and civic affairs and come up with "clear definitions" of what qualifies. And they want the FCC to reduce license terms to three years from eight and commit to acting on petitions to deny license renewals within 180 days. They are not saying that broadcasters who don't comply should be denied license renewals, just that those who do comply get expedited renewals.

Creative Voices Seeks FCC Carve-Out for Indie Productions
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