roundtable: Spectrum Action Kit

roundtable: Spectrum Action Kit

Spectrum Action Kit

CWHITCOM@bentley.edu
Wed, 12 Jul 1995 02:59:46 -0400 (EDT) 

Date: Wed, 12 Jul 1995 02:59:46 -0400 (EDT)
From: CWHITCOM@bentley.edu
Subject: Spectrum Action Kit
To: roundtable@cni.org
Message-Id: <01HSRMZDE6CY000NVG@bentley.edu>


July 11, 1995


To:     TPR Members and Other Interested Parties

From:   Gigi B. Sohn and Andrew Jay Schwartzman

Re:     Digital Television Rulemaking


     On July 28, the FCC will commence a proceeding that will
determine whether and how broadcasters will receive an extra
block of spectrum to convert to digital television.  It is
essential for the public interest community to contact
individual FCC Commissioners to ensure that there is an
opportunity for public comment on possible public interest uses
for the new spectrum.  Any correspondence must be received no
later than July 21.  A sample letter is attached.  

INTRODUCTION

     On July 28, the FCC will issue a request for public comment in
a rulemaking that will change the face of television as we have
known it.  The rulemaking will define the terms under which
over-the-air broadcasters will receive an extra block of
spectrum to convert to digital television.  Conversion to
digital will permit broadcasters to provide six, seven or more
program and non-program services (such as data, paging, etc.). 
Public interest organizations have argued that broadcasters
should give something in return for the extra spectrum, such as
free time for political candidates, enhanced children's
informational and educational programming or a set-aside for
low-cost nonprofit use.

     A more detailed explanation of the history of digital
television and its possible public interest uses is included in
the attached policy paper.

THE PROBLEM

     We have been advised that several of the FCC Commissioners do
not want to solicit comment as to whether the public should
receive some benefit from broadcasters in return for the grant
of this extra spectrum.  

     Whatever one thinks of the idea of making broadcasters give
something back to the public in exchange for the use of extra
spectrum, it should be self-evident, that at the very least, the
public should be allowed to comment on such a proposal.  To do
otherwise would stifle the debate in what may be the best, last
chance to promote democracy in the mass media.  Given the
consolidation of ownership of media that both the Senate and
House telecommunications legislation calls for, the terms by
which this spectrum is distributed takes on even more importance.

CALL TO ACTION

     The attached letter asks the FCC Commissioners to ensure that
the request for public comment in this matter includes questions
about whether some enhanced public interest obligations should
be attendant to the grant of the supplemental spectrum.  Letters
should be sent to each Commissioner separately.  The FCC's rules
relating to "ex parte" communications require that all
correspondence to the Commissioners be received no later than
July 21.  A list of addresses and fax numbers are attached to
the sample letter.   



SAMPLE LETTER TO FCC COMMISSIONERS


July   , 1995



Commissioner _________________
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, NW
8th Floor
Washington, DC 20554



Dear     :


     I (we) are writing to urge you to ensure that the Commission
asks pertinent public interest related questions in the upcoming
digital television rulemaking.  


[Place a paragraph here about you or your organization 
and its interest in this matter]


     As you know, the conversion to digital broadcasting will change
the face of television as we have known it.  Broadcasters are
asking the Commission for an extra block of publicly-owned
spectrum that will permit them to engage in a myriad of program
and non-program services.  We believe, therefore, that it is
self-evident that public should be permitted to comment on
whether there should be some enhanced public interest
obligations attendant to the grant of the supplemental spectrum.
     
     There has already been some public debate as to whether
broadcasters should be required to provide free time to
political candidates or should have enhanced children's
television obligations in return for use of the extra spectrum. 
We believe that these are just some of the possibilities.  The
Commission should therefore ask broad, open-ended questions
about possible public interest uses for the spectrum.

     Whatever one thinks of the idea of having broadcasters give
something back to the public in exchange for the use of extra
spectrum, at the very least, the public should be allowed to
comment on such a proposal.  To do otherwise would stifle the
debate in what may be the best, last chance to promote democracy
in the mass media.

     Thank you for your consideration.



                                        Sincerely,





FCC COMMISSIONERS' ADDRESSES AND FAX NUMBERS



Andrew C. Barrett
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission 
1919 M Street, NW
Room 826
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-2300 (V)
202-418-2803 (F)



Rachelle B. Chong
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission 
1919 M Street, NW
Room 844
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-2200 (V)
202-418-2820 (F)


Reed E. Hundt
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission 
1919 M Street, NW
Room 814
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-1000 (V)
202-418-2801 (F)


Susan Ness
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission 
1919 M Street, NW
Room 832
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-2100 (V)
202-418-2821 (F)


James H. Quello
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission 
1919 M Street, NW
Room 802
Washington, DC 20554
202-418-2000 (V)
202-418-2802 (F)

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