Jan 11, 2006 -- Reformers Caution FCC Against Further Weakening the Broadcast License Renewal Process

Proponents of media policy reform today urged the FCC not to exacerbate weaknesses in the broadcast license renewal process in the interest of "streamlining."

In a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, Campaign Legal Center Policy Director Meredith McGehee, Benton Foundation President Charles Benton and former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani, now with the United Church of Christ, addressed recent comments by FCC Media Bureau Chief Donna Gregg saying that "streamlining and expediting" the process through which broadcasters apply to renew their licenses would be a primary focus of her office.

According to the letter, "for broadcasters to be effective public trustees, the FCC must appropriately exercise its statutory responsibility of holding them accountable for fulfilling their public interest and programming obligations. The airwaves, after all, belong to the public and broadcasters have certain obligations particularly with respect to broadcasting information about elections and the electoral process. The current license renewal process permits many broadcasters to ignore their responsibilities with impunity; modifications to this process that would further exacerbate its shortcomings must be rejected by the Commissioners."

The full text of the letter is below.

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January 10, 2006

The Honorable Kevin Martin
Chairman
Federal Communication Commission

445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Dear Chairman Martin:

We are writing in response to FCC Media Bureau Chief Donna Gregg's statement last month that a primary focus of her bureau in the coming months would be "streamlining and expediting" the license renewal process. While we understand the Commission's interest in making its administrative operations more efficient and effective, we urge great caution in taking steps to "streamline" the current eight-year "postcard" renewal process which fails to adequately hold broadcasters accountable in fulfilling their terms of the license agreements.

Recently, the FCC has received petitions from a number of groups, including Iowans for Better Local Television, Milwaukee Public Interest Coalition and Chicago Media Action, asking the FCC to deny license renewals of their local television broadcasters. The petitions often cite the failure of local broadcasters to carry in-depth discussions of local issues. At a time when many citizens are dissatisfied with the quality of their local television's programming and content, we think it would be irresponsible for the FCC to further "streamline" a process which has diminishing credibility and has been described as a "rubber stamp."

For broadcasters to be effective public trustees, the FCC must appropriately exercise its statutory responsibility of holding them accountable for fulfilling their public interest and programming obligations. The airwaves, after all, belong to the public and broadcasters have certain obligations particularly with respect to broadcasting information about elections and the electoral process. The current license renewal process permits many broadcasters to ignore their responsibilities; modifications to this process that would further exacerbate its shortcomings must be rejected by the Commissioners.

We urge you and the FCC staff to proceed with care on this matter, and work towards a system that enhances accountability and enforcement. The current renewal process should be reformed, not made worse.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center
Charles Benton, Benton Foundation
Gloria Tristani, Office of Communications, Inc., United Church of Christ

cc: The Hon. Michael Copps
The Hon. Jonathan Adelsteina
The Hon. Deborah Tate
Donna Gregg, FCC Media Bureau