Broadcasters Ask FCC to Table Rereg Plan

BROADCASTERS ASK FCC TO TABLE REREG PLAN
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry A. Jessell]
Broadcasters and their Washington attorneys made a last-minute push to derail an FCC proceeding aimed at restoring local programming and ascertainment requirements on TV and radio stations. In letters to the FCC last Friday, just ahead of the cut-off for submitting them, the broadcasters call for putting off today's scheduled vote on the rulemaking, saying that new regulations are unnecessary and that even their prospect would hobble broadcasters in the financial and credit markets. Thirty-eight state broadcasting associations represented by attorney David Oxenford called proposals to bring back ascertainment and programming requirements and other rules “particularly unsound policy” in light of the competition now faced by broadcasters.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/12/17/daily.11/

DON'T WAIT FOR FCC'S LOCALISM MANDATES
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Arthur Greenwald]
[Commentary] Just in time for Christmas, FCC Chairman Kevin “Santa” Martin is poised to stuff broadcasters’ stockings with shiny new regulations requiring “a significant amount of locally-oriented programming.” The marketplace has not, in fact, been friendly to local programming since the previous rules were relaxed. While local news has expanded into new dayparts (thanks partly to duopolies) locally-produced talk, magazine and entertainment shows have mostly disappeared. Yes, local production means added costs, but very often for proportionally much less than it cost in the 1980s, thanks to new technology and other creative efficiencies. Most stations are poised to launch additional digital channels, all of which crave fresh content, and provide a venue for multiple runs of each local show. Perhaps the best of all, you own the shows you produce and you don't have to share the inventory.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/12/17/daily.4/