These are the news headlines as read on the Nov. 5 edition of the radioshow, now available for download.
The stories are: Free Radio Santa Cruz Back on the Air; Free Press Challenges Sinclair Licenses; Comments on Localism Filed with FCC
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Free Radio Santa Cruz Back on the Air
Less than a month after being shut down by the FCC and Federal Marshals, Free Radio Santa Cruz can be heard again on the Califronia airwaves. The station resumed broadcasting on the Internet shortly after the raid, did not restart the radio broadcast. Instead, an independent group calling itself Santa Cruz Radio Access Movement, or SCRAM, has starting broadcasting on Free Radio Santa CruzÂ’s old frequency, 101.1 FM, using the stationÂ’s Internet feed. Because the groups are not otherwise connected, this should shelter the Free Radio Santa Cruz volunteers from further FCC action, and will force the FCC to start its enforcement efforts over again.
Free Press Challenges Sinclair Licenses
On Nov. 1 the media reform group Free Press filed a petition with the FCC seeking to deny the renewal of Sinclair Broadcast Group’s television licenses in the states of North and South Carolina. Also challenged are two licenses held by Cunningham Broadcasting.
Free Press alleges that Sinclair, working in concert with Cunningham Broadcasting, is operating illegal duopolies in Asheville and in Charleston. Free Press claims that Sinclair actually operates two or more commonly owned and controlled television stations in both these markets. Two of the stations are officially owned by Cunningham Broadcasting, but Free Press says that Cunningham has relinquished complete economic and editorial control of its stations to Sinclair.
Free Press also charges that Sinclair ignores its obligations to provide programming that serves the interests of local communities since the company fired local news staffs and consolidated news operations into its headquarters in Baltimore, MD under the name News Central.
Free Press lastly alleges that SinclairÂ’s owners lack what the FCC calls “character qualifications” to be television broadcast licensees because the company has ignored prior FCC orders to separate Cunningham and Sinclair operations.
Sinclair garnered national attention recently for its plans to air an anti-John Kerry documentary during prime time on all of its stations nationwide – a plan that the company changed at the last minute, instead airing a one-hour program called “A POW Story” that included portions of the anti-Kerry film. Sinclair owns 62 stations, including ones in Champaign, Springfield and Peoria, IL, and Sacramento, CA.
Sinclair released its third quarter financial results on Nov. 4, showing 6.2% loss in operating income compared to last year. But the company also saw a $6.7 million boost in political ad revenue from the same period last year.
Comments on Localism Filed with FCC
The FCC is currently studying the issue of localism and broadcast stations, investigating whether broadcasters are meeting their public-interest obligations, especially with regard to local programming. Comments on this proceeding were due on Nov. 1, and media reform groups, the National Association of Broadcasters, local broadcasters and members of the public have recently made filings.
A coalition of media reform groups, led by the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law and the Consumer Federation of America, urged the agency to take a stand against corporate conglomerates that ignore local community needs while profiting from what it calls advertiser-driven, lowest common denominator programming.
The comments recommend reforms including assigning more broadcast licenses to nonprofit community media, and developing regulations to ensure that commercial broadcasters provide local groups and media producers with access to broadcast time and facilities.
The Illini Media Company, which operates WPGU-FM in Champaign, filed comments in support of the localism proceeding, detailing the stationÂ’s recent changes to emphasize local music and air more locally-tailored and produced entertainment and public affairs programs.
Alan Beck, Vice President and General Manager of Saga CommunicationsÂ’ Champaign-based radio group also filed comments detailing its four stationsÂ’ local efforts, writing:
“Our country station WIXY actually records hundreds of grade school classes reciting the pledge of allegiance and replays individual classes doing so at designated times daily.” Beck’s comments go on to note that “And, yes, Mr. Chairman, we do leave in ONE NATION UNDER GOD because that is what we are and that REFLECTS THE VALUES OF THE COMMUNITIES WHICH WE SERVE.”
In its comments, the National Association of Broadcasters argued that broadcasters face intense competitive pressure that drives radio and TV stations to meet the needs of their communities.
The nation’s largest broadcast lobby wrote, “Given these circumstances, NAB believes that the [FCC’s inquiry] on imposing new obligations on broadcasters is neither justified nor prudent.”
Finally, 23 members of the public in Moscow, ID and 119 people in Champaign-Urbana filed individual comments. Almost all of them were critical of broadcasters and the level of local service they provide. A majority of them directly addressed Sinclair broadcasting and its plan to air the Anti-John Kerry documentary.
Replies to comments already filed may be submitted to the FCC until Dec. 1. They may be filed at the FCC website, www.fcc.gov/localism