FCC probes bid by radio and TV to serve public
WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission will
begin looking at how television and radio stations can best serve their
communities, the agency's chairman said Wednesday.
Michael Powell's
announcement follows intense criticism by lawmakers and others of the FCC's
decision to loosen broadcast ownership rules.
Powell, the
driving force behind the new rules that take effect next month, sought to play
down concerns the changes would promote mergers and leave a few big companies
controlling the vast majority of stations.
"We heard
the voice of public concern loud and clear, that localism remains a core
concern of our public," Powell said.
He plans to
appoint a task force to study the issue, hold public hearings and report back
within a year.
Powell said the
FCC would speed the licensing of noncommercial, low-power FM radio stations,
which are designed to feature local programming.
The FCC voted
3-2 along party lines in June to overhaul ownership rules for newspapers and
television and radio stations. The changes would allow a single company to own
television stations reaching 45 percent of the nation's viewers - compared with
35 percent before - and to own newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same
city.
Smaller
broadcasters, network affiliates, consumer groups and others are concerned the
new limit will allow the networks to gobble up more stations and limit local
control of programming.
Lawmakers from
both parties are pushing to roll back some or all the changes. Over Bush
administration objections, the House voted 400-21 last month to roll back the
rules.
Powell said the
question of how to best serve communities is best addressed separately rather
than in the ownership rules.
Over the years
the FCC has rolled back requirements that broadcast owners said handcuffed
them.
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