Sep 29, 2006 -- FCC Commissioners Adelstein and Copps Recognize Transition Shortcomings: Statement of Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center Policy Director

Federal Communications Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps deserve credit for calling out their colleagues and pushing for new public-interest obligations for digital broadcasters. This process has been stalled for nearly seven years and the FCC has still not defined the public-interest duties, creating confusion for both broadcasters and the viewing public. Not only will clear public-interest obligations promise relevant and quality programming for viewers, but well-defined obligations will create greater certainty for broadcasters as they chart courses for programming in the digital world.

Based on the Commission's recently adopted rules increasing educational programming obligations for digital television broadcasters offering multiple programming streams, it is clear that the public-interest community, broadcasters and regulators can reach a consensus on these important issues. It is now up to the FCC to facilitate the discussion between these parties and adopt clear, meaningful public interest requirements for digital broadcasters.

With the February 17, 2009 analogue to digital transition deadline looming, the clock is ticking for the FCC to establish clear public-interest obligations for digital broadcasters. As television broadcasting transitions to the sharper images made possible by digital television, Americans also deserve a clearer picture from policymakers for how broadcasters will meet their basic public interest obligations in the digital age. We commend Commissioners Adelstein and Copps for speaking out on this issue, and we hope their efforts will jump start the rulemaking process.