"He also recognized MMTC as a long-time proponent of Class C4 FM stations, a
new class of stations that could increase power of hundreds of Class A
stations. On Feb. 5, the Media Bureau released an NPRM on Class C4 FM stations.
Pai noted that MMTC has backed authorization because it could help small and
minority-owned stations to obtain the capital they need and strengthen their
market position."
On this subject of low-powered FM stations, imagine how much further the FCC
could go, if it would educate itself on the now 15-year existence of HD Radio.
Instead of requiring entire new FM stations to be built on a shoestring, just
give these broadcasters the opportunity to piggy-back on existing channels.
Don't know if this is still true, because HD Radios are virtually impossible to
buy except in certain formats, and online, but one local FM station was doing
just that, a few years ago. And others were transmitting AM station content, on
their subchannels. Of course, an FCC that has never heard of HD Radio wouldn't
know about the availability of these efficient options.
BDAC is another interesting topic. Rightly or wrongly, it is heavily biased
toward the major telecom provider companies. Lefties have of course complained
about this bias, but at least in this instance, the arguments are more nuanced.
This Chairman has shown a pattern of only worrying about the best interests of
the very few major providers, and is doing no different here. In fairness,
aside from avoiding objecting to local municipal systems, I don't think the FCC
can anything much here. Bottom line, there's nothing to suggest that local
monopolies, for fixed broadband service, are going to be a thing of the past,
anytime soon.
Bert
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.tvtechnology.com/news/0002/fcc-chairman-elaborates-on-broadcast-incubator-steps-to-bridge-digital-divide/282689
FCC Chairman Elaborates on Broadcast Incubator, Steps To Bridge Digital Divide
Pai discussed the FCC's efforts at an annual gathering of the Multicultural
Media, Telecom and Internet Council
February 6, 2018
By Phil Kurz
WASHINGTON-FCC Chairman Ajit Pai relied on an out-of-this-world quote to
describe how his agency is addressing the real-world lack of diversity in the
communications industry during remarks presented today at the MMTC 9th Annual
Broadband and Social Justice Summit in Washington, D.C.
"To borrow from Yoda in 'The Empire Strikes Back,' 'Try not. Do, or do not.
There is no try.' Much wisdom in that statement there is," said Pai.
Pai was referring to action the FCC took in November 2017 to advance a
broadcast incubator program, something he described as "a personal priority"
since 2014, he told his audience at the Multicultural Media, Telecom and
Internet Council gathering. Last fall, the agency adopted a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking seeking advice on how to put the program together and implement it.
"Our goal is to develop an incubator program that will help address barriers to
station ownership, such as lack of access to capital and the need for technical
experience-and for these solutions to increase broadcast ownership diversity,"
he said.
The NPRM asks for information on topics, such as the criteria to be eligible to
benefit from the program, appropriate activities of the incubator, what
benefits should be available and how the program should be reviewed, monitored
and enforced, said Pai.
The FCC chairman also discussed "a repugnant practice" of certain advertisers
that "exclude minority focused media outlets from their ad campaigns through a
so-called 'No Urban/No Hispanic' dictate," he said.
While former FCC Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Robert McDowell and the
American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As) "led the charge" against the
practice, which resulted in the 4As adopting a "non-discrimination policy
frame" and a review process for media complaints in 2011, the practice appears
to have "arisen again," said Pai. The 4As again have worked to end
discriminatory practices and will today announce its Fair Play policy, which
asks charter media agencies "to recommit to fair and equitable treatment of
minority media owners," he said.
Pai began his address by acknowledging the role MMTC has played as "one of the
most respected and thoughtful voices in our community." He described MMTC as "a
key advocate" for many FCC policies enacted over the past year. For example,
MMTC supported the agency discontinuing its local broadcast main studio rule.
While some opponents "called this an attack on localism," MMTC pointed out that
the rule's staffing requirements acted as an impediment to minority
broadcasters from entering markets "by putting significant financial burdens"
on them, he said.
He also recognized MMTC as a long-time proponent of Class C4 FM stations, a new
class of stations that could increase power of hundreds of Class A stations. On
Feb. 5, the Media Bureau released an NPRM on Class C4 FM stations. Pai noted
that MMTC has backed authorization because it could help small and
minority-owned stations to obtain the capital they need and strengthen their
market position.
Pai also told MMTC that he has reconstituted the FCC's Diversity Committee,
which has the primary mission of developing recommendations on ways to empower
disadvantaged communities and accelerate the entry of small businesses,
including minority- and women-owned entities, into media and digital industries.
However, the place where the missions of the agency and MMTC most closely align
is in closing the digital divide, he said. "Every American who wants high-speed
Internet access should be able to get it," said Pai.
The FCC's Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) weeks ago submitted
findings and recommendations to the commission aimed at bridging the divide.
Pai called the BDAC's report "a valuable contribution to our efforts to promote
expanded availability of wired and wireless broadband."
Pai closed his comments by recalling the words of abolitionist and social
reformer Frederick Douglass, which he said "still resonate today." Douglass's
words "[s]ome know the value of education by having it. I know its value by
not having it" are echoed in an "opportunity gap in the digital age," said Pai.
Pai seeks to change the circumstance where those "on the wrong side of the
digital divide" do not have the "full ability to educate their kids," find
high-quality health care, become entrepreneurs, engage civically in their local
communities "and otherwise better their lives," he said.
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