Source: Daily Variety
FCC Proposes Compensations For Digital Services Funding
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is again struggling with broadcasters over the industryís obligation to compensate the public for the billions of dollarsí worth of airwaves it was given to launch new digital services. The FCC began an inquiry last Wednesday that brought out several suggestions on how paying back the public could be accomplished. Among the most prominent and controversial proposals is that TV stations give politicians at least five minutes of free airtime in the 30 days prior to an election. Another proposal would require broadcasters to use their digital spectrum to tailor emergency announcements on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis. The obligations would come on top of broadcastersí current requirements such as providing three hours of educational childrenís programming each week. The FCC has debated the matter in the past but has dropped the issue in response to aggressive lobbying by the broadcasting industry. The FCC decided to take another look at potential obligations after receiving a letter from Vice President Gore in October urging the commission to look closely at requiring broadcasters to give politicians free airtime. In his letter, Gore referred to the recommendations of a White House-appointed panel of broadcasters and public interest advocates. The panel, commonly referred to as the Gore Commission, recommended that broadcasters voluntarily offer politicians free airtime but stopped short of calling for a government mandate.