Current (https://current.org/author/doug-halonen/)
Public broadcasters agree with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai that rules intended to ensure public access to local stations have become “outdated and unnecessarily burdensome.”
Pubcasters were spared from providing certain details about board members and excluded from new rules governing on-air fundraising for other nonprofits.
The Prometheus Radio Project is asking the FCC to reconsider a January ruling.
The rule, scheduled for an April 20 vote, would allow public stations to seek waivers if they choose to fundraise for other nonprofits.
A long-pending proposal would allow noncommercial stations to devote up to 1 percent of their annual air time to raising funds for other nonprofits.
State networks in Maryland and Mississippi are among those facing big engineering projects.
As the spectrum auction winds down, the FCC plans to open another opportunity for stations to negotiate channel-sharing deals.
The CEO of Public Media Co. says pubcasters are at risk of losing out to commercial interests if they fail to advocate for their use of the upcoming technical standard.
Under a Republican-controlled FCC, public broadcasters will get a new hearing for their objections to disclosures required of station board members.