Public Interest Obligations in the 21st Century: Where Do We Go from Here?

March 3, 2008 At a press event focused on the FCC's localism proceeding, Benton Foundation Chairman Charles Benton noted that the Commission first asked for public input on the public interest obligations of digital television broadcasters nearly 13 years ago. Less than a year from the end of the digital television transition, Benton said, "It is with some urgency that we gather today to say, again, that the FCC must issue clear guidelines to ensure that broadcasters adhere to the law and serve the local educational, informational, civic, minority, disability and security needs of the children and adults in the communities that TV stations are licensed to serve."