The Public Interest Demands a Dose of Reality on TV

[Commentary] The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina has taught us a number of painful lessons -- including, unexpectedly, the vital role television sometimes plays in our lives. As The Washington Post reported Sept. 1, the people most in need of information about the storm were the least likely to be able to see, hear or read about it. With electricity wiped out in the affected areas, receiving local broadcast or cable-TV signals was nearly impossible. This time, catastrophic infrastructure failure kept the public in the dark. But when the next natural disaster strikes, the result could be the same -- even if the lights stay on. Members of Congress are considering legislation this month that could make permanent the media blackout we witnessed in New Orleans. At stake in legislation concerning the transition to digital television is whether or not television-station owners continue to serve the public interest, convenience and necessity, as federal law now requires. Public-interest obligations play a critical role -- in fact, a life-saving role -- in the lives of Americans and the safety of our nation. In part because these obligations require broadcasters to serve local community needs, television today can provide timely and effective emergency warnings that save lives, reduce property losses and speed economic recovery during times of crisis. The FCC and Congress need to address how the transition to digital television will benefit citizens local, civic and electoral needs. They should define meaningful public-interest obligations. To achieve these goals, all of us -- parents, voters, community leaders, activists, and concerned citizens -- need to pick up the television policy remote control and change the tune coming from policymakers in Washington. Demand reality-based public-interest obligations that help make a difference in countless lives, before the next crisis strikes.