Advisory Panel Proposes Public-Interest TV Programming

[SOURCE: National Journal, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
On Friday, the FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee recommended that the agency act within six months to require broadcasters to satisfy specific public-interest obligations for digital television. The recommendation asks the Commission to complete open dockets on public interest and disclosure dockets open since 1999 and 2000 respectfully. Before the Committee's vote, James Goodmon, the CEO of Capitol Broadcasting in Raleigh (NC) spoke to the group about why defining public interest obligations are crucial for broadcasters. Goodmon, a member of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), has endorsed public-interest requirements for digital broadcasters since at least 1998. Only one member of the Committee opposed the recommendation: Ann Bobeck, an attorney representing the NAB.
http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/techdaily/pmedition/tp051118.htm
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* FCC Committee Recommends DTV Obligations
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6285441?display=Breaking+News...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

* FCC Consumer Group Weighs DTV Obligations
Looking for a strong yes vote, Rep Diane Watson (D-CA) has written the chair of the CAC expressing her support for the recommendations. Rep Watson is a founding member of the Future of America Media Caucus, formed last April by House Democrats "concerned about "the damaging effects of media consolidation." "While the FCC has opened a series of proceedings since 1999 on issues related to the public interest obligations of digital television broadcasters," wrote Rep Watson, "it has not yet issued any decision from those proceedings. I strongly believe that consumers have the right to know how the analog-to-digital transition will serve their interests."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6284889?display=Breaking+News...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

** For more info on CAC, see: http://www.benton.org/index.php?q=initiatives/proceedings