NAB to FCC: Reporting Requirement a Burden

Commercial television broadcasters love to provide loads of programming that addresses the safety, cultural, educational, local civic and public affairs needs of their communities. But, oh, the paper work -- now that's a burden. The National Association of Broadcasters told the Federal Communications Commission its new program-reporting requirement -- part of a package of TV localism proposals -- would increase the paperwork burden on stations by more than 1,000%. It said stations would have to devote an extra 21.5 hours per week to comply, or more than 4 million hours per year [that is, if you believe 21.5 x 52 equals 4 million -- but that's Hollywood math, right?] The FCC wants broadcasters to fill out a new disclosure form that requires more detailed information on what kind of programming it aired and why. The NAB said such a burden would divert resources from its mission to serve its communities. It also said it would wind up being a larger burden than the FCC's old program-ascertainment policy, scuttled in the deregulatory 1980s.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6560265.html?rssid=193