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Spectrum Action Kit
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Date: Thu, 13 Jul 1995 10:20:00 -0700
From: CWHITCOM@bentley.edu
To: "Multiple recipients of list cpsr-announce@cpsr.org"
July 11, 1995
To: TPR Members and Other Interested Parties
From: Gigi B. Sohn and Andrew Jay Schwartzman
Re: Digital Television Rulemaking
On July 28, the FCC will commence a proceeding that will determine whether and how broadcasters will receive an extra block of spectrum to convert to digital television. It is essential for the public interest community to contact individual FCC Commissioners to ensure that there is an opportunity for public comment on possible public interest uses for the new spectrum. Any correspondence must be received no later than July 21. A sample letter is attached.
INTRODUCTION
On July 28, the FCC will issue a request for public comment in a rulemaking that will change the face of television as we have known it. The rulemaking will define the terms under which over-the-air broadcasters will receive an extra block of spectrum to convert to digital television. Conversion to digital will permit broadcasters to provide six, seven or more program and non-program services (such as data, paging, etc.). Public interest organizations have argued that broadcasters should give something in return for the extra spectrum, such as free time for political candidates, enhanced children's informational and educational programming or a set-aside for low-cost nonprofit use.
A more detailed explanation of the history of digital television and its possible public interest uses is included in the attached policy paper.
THE PROBLEM
We have been advised that several of the FCC Commissioners do not want to solicit comment as to whether the public should receive some benefit from broadcasters in return for the grant of this extra spectrum.
Whatever one thinks of the idea of making broadcasters give something back to the public in exchange for the use of extra spectrum, it should be self-evident, that at the very least, the public should be allowed to comment on such a proposal. To do otherwise would stifle the debate in what may be the best, last chance to promote democracy in the mass media. Given the consolidation of ownership of media that both the Senate and House telecommunications legislation calls for, the terms by which this spectrum is distributed takes on even more importance.
CALL TO ACTION
The attached letter asks the FCC Commissioners to ensure that the request for public comment in this matter includes questions about whether some enhanced public interest obligations should be attendant to the grant of the supplemental spectrum. Letters should be sent to each Commissioner separately. The FCC's rules relating to "ex parte" communications require that all correspondence to the Commissioners be received no later than July 21. A list of addresses and fax numbers are attached to the sample letter.
SAMPLE LETTER TO FCC COMMISSIONERS
July , 1995
Commissioner _________________
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, NW
8th Floor
Washington, DC 20554
Dear :
I (we) are writing to urge you to ensure that the Commission asks pertinent public interest related questions in the upcoming digital television rulemaking.
[Place a paragraph here about you or your organization
and its interest in this matter]
As you know, the conversion to digital broadcasting will change the face of television as we have known it. Broadcasters are asking the Commission for an extra block of publicly-owned spectrum that will permit them to engage in a myriad of program and non-program services. We believe, therefore, that it is self-evident that public should be permitted to comment on whether there should be some enhanced public interest obligations attendant to the grant of the supplemental spectrum.
There has already been some public debate as to whether broadcasters should be required to provide free time to political candidates or should have enhanced children's television obligations in return for use of the extra spectrum. We believe that these are just some of the possibilities. The Commission should therefore ask broad, open-ended questions about possible public interest uses for the spectrum.
Whatever one thinks of the idea of having broadcasters give something back to the public in exchange for the use of extra spectrum, at the very least, the public should be allowed to comment on such a proposal. To do otherwise would stifle the debate in what may be the best, last chance to promote democracy in the mass media.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
FCC COMMISSIONERS' ADDRESSES AND FAX NUMBERS
Andrew C. Barrett
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, NW
Room 826
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-2300 (V)
202-418-2803 (F)
Rachelle B. Chong
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, NW
Room 844
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-2200 (V)
202-418-2820 (F)
Reed E. Hundt
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, NW
Room 814
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-1000 (V)
202-418-2801 (F)
Susan Ness
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, NW
Room 832
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-2100 (V)
202-418-2821 (F)
James H. Quello
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, NW
Room 802
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-2000 (V)
202-418-2802 (F)
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