A New Test Is Proposed in Licensing Radio and TV

Michael J. Copps, one of the five commissioners on the Federal Communications Commission, said Thursday that a “public value test” should replace the current licensing system for television and radio stations. The test, he said, “would get us back to the original licensing bargain between broadcasters and the people: in return for free use of airwaves that belong exclusively to the people, licensees agree to serve the public interest as good stewards of a precious national resource.”

Commissioner Copps, who has long wanted to reform the license system, made the proposal in an address at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism on Thursday. It is his latest effort to draw attention to the public interest requirements of local stations at a time when he believes American journalism is in “grave peril.” In his prepared remarks, he criticized the casual nature of the current license renewals for stations and said his intent with the public value test was to foster “a renewed commitment to serious news and journalism.” There was no indication Thursday whether the other four FCC commissioners would consider his proposal.