MMTC to FCC: Name Compliance Officer

The Minority Media & Telecommunications Council asked the Federal Communications Commission to name an official to act as a compliance officer for its new rule banning discrimination in the placement of broadcast advertising. In a letter to FCC chairman Kevin Martin July 15, when the new rule took effect, MMTC executive director David Honig said the compliance officer would make sure that broadcasters were aware of their new obligations. The rule is meant to prevent advertisers from avoiding buying time on Hispanic- or African-American-targeted stations by requiring broadcasters renewing their licenses to "certify that their advertising-sales contracts contain nondiscrimination clauses that prohibit all forms of discrimination." Apparently, the American Association of Advertising Agencies supports the MMTC request.