USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Bishop Says Broadcasters Should Be Required to Provide Programming That Better Serves The Public In The Digital Age

Bishop Says Broadcasters Should Be Required to Provide Programming That Better Serves The Public In The Digital Age

WASHINGTON (June 6, 2006)—In a letter (May 23) to FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, the Chairman of the Communications Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said enforceable public interest obligations will continue to be needed when television becomes completely digital in 2009.

"Today, even as the broadcast industry continues to benefit from its subsidized use of the public airwaves, broadcasters' observance of meaningful public interest obligations have declined," said Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson. "We ask that, in exchange for the use of tens of billions of dollars worth of new spectrum rights, broadcasters be required to put forth a substantial effort to provide programming that better serves the public."

Bishop Kicanas said the experience of the USCCB and the nearly 200 Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the United States is that there has been a steady decline in television stations willing to broadcast noncommercial religious programming or local public interest programming featuring local religious leaders. "The Catholic bishops of the United States are concerned that, with the imminent conversion to all digital broadcasts, the already limited amount of religious programming will decline even further," the Bishop said.

"The USCCB is committed to maintaining a place for religion and values on the public airwaves and to programming that inspires, informs and educates," Bishop Kicanas said.

"We urge the FCC to adopt regulations that would provide broadcasters incentives to air programs produced by religious institutions, organizations, schools, and other community-based organizations," Bishop Kicanas wrote. Such regulations could include shorter periods for license renewal review, he suggested, or a provision that would ensure that local licensees will understand and meet local religious needs and interests with responsive programming.

Last November, Bishop Kicanas wrote to Commissioner Martin to urge the Federal Communications Commission to complete its proceedings in the matter of Public Interest Obligations of TV Broadcasters

and Licensees (MM Docket No. 99-36) and Standardized and Enhanced Disclosure Requirements for Television Broadcast Licensee Public Interest Obligations (MM 20 Docket No. 00-168) and issue Reports and Orders in these matters before June 1, 2006. Since then, no action has been taken in those proceedings.

he date for the end of analog television and complete transition to digital television is February 17, 2009.

The complete text of the letter of Bishop Kicanas to Chairman Martin follows.

May 23, 2006

Honorable Kevin J. Martin
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554

Dear Chairman Martin:

Last November, I wrote to you, on behalf of the United Conference of Catholic Bishops, to urge the Federal Communications Commission to complete its proceedings in the matter of Public Interest Obligations of TV Broadcasters and Licensees (MM Docket No. 99-360) and in the matter of Standardized and Enhanced Disclosure Requirements for Television Broadcast Licensee Public Interest Obligations (MM 20 Docket No. 00-168), and issue Reports and Orders in these matters before June 1, 2006. Since then, no action has been taken in those proceedings. The date for the end of analog television and complete transition to digital television is February 17, 2009, just two years and eight months from now.

Enforceable public interest obligations are needed now, and will continue to be needed when television is completely digital. Today, even as the broadcasting industry continues to benefit from its subsidized use of the public airwaves, broadcasters' observance of meaningful public interest obligations have declined. We ask that, in exchange for the use of tens of billions of dollars worth of new spectrum rights, broadcasters be required to put forth a substantial effort to provide programming that better serves the public.

The experience of the USCCB and of Roman Catholic dioceses is that there has been a steady decline in television stations willing to broadcast noncommercial religious programming or local pubic interest programming featuring local religious leaders. The Catholic bishops of the United States are concerned that, with the imminent conversion to all-digital broadcasts, the already limited amount of religious programming will decline even further.

The USCCB is committed to maintaining a place for religion and values on the public airwaves and to programming that inspires, informs and educates. USCCB is in regular contact with nearly 200 Catholic dioceses throughout the United States. Catholic programmers produce a variety of radio programs, including talk shows featuring religious issues and family matters, to local public affairs programs, sacred music concerts, and children's programs. A significant number of dioceses that produce television programs and public service announcements have consistently informed us of the financial burden and increased difficulty involved in obtaining airtime on local broadcast stations. As a result, the bishops are concerned that local broadcasters' programming decisions regarding religious and educational programming is more deeply rooted in their desire for commercial gain, rather than in meeting their statutory obligations to serve their communities' needs and interests.

We urge the FCC to adopt regulations that would provide broadcasters incentives to air programs produced by religious institutions, organizations, schools, and other community-based organizations. Such regulations could include shorter periods for license renewal review; or a provision that would ensure that local licensees will understand and meet local religious needs and interests with responsive programming.

Over the years, USCCB has advocated for legislation and regulations that would ensure broadcast licensees understand and meet local needs and interests with responsive programming by: (a) amplifying the voices and views of the public, including community organizations and noncommercial religious entities, in broadcast media; (b) increasing the amount of local news and public affairs programming (including religious programs and public service announcements); and (c) increasing the amount of programming that serves the educational needs of children, persons with disabilities, and underserved communities.

As chairman of the USCCB Committee for Communications, I respectfully urge you to reconfirm broadcasters' obligation to serve their local communities of license by issuing reports and orders in these proceedings: (1) Public Interest Obligations of TV Broadcasters and Licensees (MM Docket No. 99-360) and (2) Standardized and Enhanced Disclosure Requirements for Television Broadcast Licensee Public Interest Obligations (MM 20 Docket No. 00-168). Thank you for your consideration of our views.

Sincerely,

Most Reverend Gerald F. Kicanas
Bishop of Tucson
Chairman, Communications Committee

cc: Commissioner Michael J. Copps, Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein, Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate