HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY RADIO BEGINS
AS RADIO FOR PEOPLE GAINS FCC VICTORY
Filing Window Opens: October 12-22
After years of waiting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened a filing window for full-power noncommercial radio licenses this week -- from October 12 to October 22. The window is seen by media democracy activists as a rare and historic opportunity, as it will probably be the last chance that non-profits have to obtain a full-power station for years to come. Hundreds are expected to apply for local stations, establishing a new generation of community radio broadcasters.
Radio for People Coalition
Members of the Radio for People Coalition estimate that more than 200 applications will be filed by local residents for community radio stations. Radio for People, a national coalition of individuals and organizations for promoting community radio, was formed in 2006 to help community radio applicants prepare for this filing window.
The coalition includes: Pacifica Radio, Common Frequency, Free Press, Future of Music coalition, National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB), Prometheus Radio Project and Public Radio Capital. Various activist, radio engineers, and FCC lawyers have also donated countless hours of service to the coalition's work.
A Victory for Community Radio
On the eve of the filing window, community radio gained a victory when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set a limit of 10 applications per group during the application window. The Radio for People Coalition, as well as thousands of others across the country, had called on the FCC to set this limitation. Continued...
According to the FCC announcement, the
"overwhelming majority" of 10,000 public comments support the proposed
limit of 10 new station applications filed by any party, arguing that
this cap would foster localism and diversity. The Commission explains
that "our examination of the record confirms our concern that failure
to establish a limit on the number of NCE FM applications that a party
may file in the window would lead to a large number of speculative
filings, creating the potential for extraordinary procedural delays."
"We
applaud the FCC for safeguarding fair and democratic access to the
publicly-owned airwaves," said Ursula Ruedenberg, Radio for People
organizer and Outreach Director for Pacifica Radio. "The ruling greatly
levels the playing field by putting serious limitations on those who
historically have abused the system by blanketing the country with
applications. This is a victory for the community radio movement."
Those Who Disagree
While
most advocacy groups called for a 10 station limit on applications,
some asked the FCC for a higher ceiling. National Public Radio and
Minnesota Public Radio argued for limits of 15 and 30 applications
respectively, arguing that a higher cap would help their member
stations to use the NCE process to upgrade translator towers to full
grade radio stations.
Many of the religious
right broadcasters who have built large national networks by filing
mass applications also asked the FCC to relax the limit. According to
the FCC notice, Network of Glory suggested that "the goal of limiting
speculative applications could be addressed by other means, such as a
filing fee and/or a trafficking restriction,” supporting a limit of 40
applications “if those alternative approaches are not adopted."
The
Educational Media Foundation (EMF), which oversees Christian networks
like K-Love and Air 1 Radio, is the only party that argued against any
method of limiting applications -- not surprising for an entity that
claims on their website to own 333 radio stations. In response to their
comments the FCC ruled, "We find unpersuasive EMF’s argument that
speculative filings will be deterred adequately by the complexity of
the NCE FM application form and the NCE FM point system. The vast
majority of commenters support our proposal to impose a limit of 10
applications. We believe that a 10-application limit is consistent with
the localism and diversity goals reflected in the NCE FM point system
and appropriately balances our goals of deterring speculative filings,
facilitating the expeditious processing of window-filed applications
with limited Commission resources, and providing interested parties
with a meaningful opportunity to file for NCE FM new station licenses."
The
FCC notice also declined to adopt EMF’s proposed exception for
applications filed to replace an operating FM translator station,
arguing that "the exception proposed by EMF would undermine the
application limit and the policy goals that are the basis for the
limit."
We Mean Business
The
Commission also acknowledged the potential for attempts to circumvent
the application limit. "We note that the Bureau retains the discretion
to conduct investigations and, where there is a substantial and
material question of fact regarding real parties in interest, the
Commission will designate applications for hearing to determine whether
the applications comply with the Commission’s rules and policies."
For more information:
In addition to thousands of individual commenters, supporters of the proposed cap included:
Pacifica
Radio Network, Native Public Media, Akaku Maui Community Television,
Colquitt Community Radio, Inc., Omni Center for Peace, Justice, and
Ecology, Interlochen Public Radio, Kol Ami Havurah, Capital Community
Television, Driftless Community Radio, Inc., Prometheus Radio Project,
DIYmedia, Free Press, Minority Media and Telecommunications Council,
National Federation of Community Broadcasters, National Hispanic Media
Coalition, Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ,
Station Resource Group, Public Radio Capital, Public Radio
International, California Public Radio, Western States Public Radio,
College Broadcasters, Inc., Eastern Region Public Media, Brown
Broadcast Services, Reclaim the Media and Common Frequency.
|
