FCC Comissioner Michael Copps took part in a public forum in Pittsburgh called "Owning The Airwaves." Here's a brief excerpt from Inside Radio.
FCC commissioner Michael Copps renewed his call for tougher license renewals during a media ownership forum last night in Pittsburgh. Copps says the current eight-year cycle should be cut to three years and that the FCC “take a good, hard look” to see if stations are doing enough to keep their license. Copps also backed the idea of requiring station public files be put online.
My first question to the Commissioner is: What is he doing to achieve his goal? Has he put forth a proposal within the Commission? Or is he just talking about it, hoping someone else will do it? These rule changes have to start somewhere, and Copps doesn't seem to be able to figure out how to do it.
My second question: How will he pay for all the new staffers to handle the renewals? The reason the Commission moved to 8 year renewals was because there were too many stations and too few staffers to process renewals every 3 years. That led to backlogs in renewals. Returning to the old system would require hiring more staff at a time when Congress is looking to cut back on federal employees.
As for requiring public files to be online, a lot of stations already do it, even though it's not required. And I think it would be useful for someone interested in public file material to make a visit to the station. I know it may seem old fashioned, but it would demonstrate a real interest, and also bring people from the community into the station.
FCC commissioner Michael Copps renewed his call for tougher license renewals during a media ownership forum last night in Pittsburgh. Copps says the current eight-year cycle should be cut to three years and that the FCC “take a good, hard look” to see if stations are doing enough to keep their license. Copps also backed the idea of requiring station public files be put online.
My first question to the Commissioner is: What is he doing to achieve his goal? Has he put forth a proposal within the Commission? Or is he just talking about it, hoping someone else will do it? These rule changes have to start somewhere, and Copps doesn't seem to be able to figure out how to do it.
My second question: How will he pay for all the new staffers to handle the renewals? The reason the Commission moved to 8 year renewals was because there were too many stations and too few staffers to process renewals every 3 years. That led to backlogs in renewals. Returning to the old system would require hiring more staff at a time when Congress is looking to cut back on federal employees.
As for requiring public files to be online, a lot of stations already do it, even though it's not required. And I think it would be useful for someone interested in public file material to make a visit to the station. I know it may seem old fashioned, but it would demonstrate a real interest, and also bring people from the community into the station.
