Until now, the FCC has not considered programming when taking into account a station’s license. However, the Media and Democracy Project, an advocacy group backed by Preston Padden, wants that to change, as it claims falsehoods shared by a Fox Televison Stations-owned broadcast TV station in Philadelphia during the 2020 U.S. presidential election season is grounds for preventing its license renewal.
While the merits of that fight are being debated, the Chairwoman of the FCC has circulated amongst the Commissioners a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that she believes will support local journalism.
How so? She proposes to prioritize processing the review of applications for license renewal or for assignment or transfer of license for radio and television broadcast stations that provide “locally originated programming.”
Jessica Rosenworcel on Tuesday announced a proposal that, if adopted, would begin a proceeding “to advance the Commission’s longstanding policy goal of supporting local journalism and broadcasters’ commitment to meet the needs and interests of local communities.”
But, is it a proposal that will establish a specific, codified standard as to what “locally originated programming” is? And, is it the job of the FCC to keep an accurate, up-to-date list of such programming?
Details are scant, with the FCC only sharing that the proposal “explores incentivizing the production of local programming by prioritizing the processing and review of applications from broadcast stations that invest in and prioritize local programming in communities across the country.”
For local TV broadcast groups, that’s a no-brainer. But for independently owned stations that rely on syndicated programming or digital multicast networks, does this put them at a disadvantage with respect to the Commission? What about NewsNet, the 24/7 all-news channel that is buying low-power TV stations across the U.S. as it converts from a digital multicast network?
Then, there is the matter of Radio. Given the large amount of syndicated programming and voicetracking seen across the industry, how will the Commission prioritize an AM or FM station’s license renewal? Will this hurt big groups such as iHeartMedia?
Those questions are likely to arise in the coming weeks, given the arrival of the proposed NPRM.
Rosenworcel said, “There’s something special about when you hear a local voice on the airwaves or see a familiar face on your television set in the evening. Over time we’ve come to trust those voices and they provide an important service to these communities. We want to recognize that dedication when it comes time for license renewals and transactions and this proposal does just that.”
The Chairwoman circulated the proposal, as summarized:
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to support local journalism that proposes to prioritize processing the review of applications for license renewal or for assignment or transfer of license filed by radio and television broadcast stations that provide locally originated programming.
