Mar 20, 2008 -- Granite Broadcasting Offers Free Airtime to Candidates

The Public Interest Public Airwaves Coalition (PIPAC) commends Granite Broadcasting for its continued commitment to provide free airtime to candidates for public office during an election year. This fall Granite Broadcasting stations will once again make their production facilities available to candidates in the six weeks leading up to the 2008 elections. In an era when many broadcasters treat the publicly owned airwaves they utilize to broadcast as a right and not a privilege, Granite Broadcasting deserves credit for providing a service to its viewers and an example to other station owners.

Individual stations will select the federal, state and/or local political races to be featured in the program series. Each week, major candidates will be offered two minutes to respond to an issue of local or national importance. Granite Broadcasting says that following production, candidates' responses will be publicized and regularly scheduled during newscasts. Their responses will also be transcribed and available online. This service will be available to all qualified candidates free-of-charge as a public service to involve the local communities in the upcoming elections.

Although the public expects - and the law requires - broadcasters to serve the citizens and communities where they operate by fulfilling public interest obligations, very few actually follow in the footsteps of companies like Granite Broadcasting. Their commitment to the public supplies citizens with the information they need to be informed and engaged voters and also serves to provide a level playing field for candidates who may not have been able to afford airtime otherwise.

PIPAC continues to address the importance of broadcasters' service to the public and to push the Federal Communications Commission to create and uphold stronger regulations governing public interest obligations.