Broadcasters Disagree on Radio Caps, Seek Swift QR Resolution
Broadcasters disagreed on loosening local ownership rules for radio and targeted MVPDs and public interest groups, in replies posted in docket 18-349 through Monday. Allen Media opposed United Church of Christ and Free Press calls for FCC studies of demographic…
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data. “Absent concrete Commission action, not further study, the number of broadcast stations owned by racial minorities will remain disproportionately small,” Allen Media said. “The time for Commission action is now -- not another decade.” There’s “an urgent need” for the FCC “to improve its data collection by analyzing and publicly releasing data in a more timely fashion (closer to real time),” said the National Hispanic Media Coalition. The FCC “has no authority to skip the 2018 review and roll that quadrennial into the upcoming 2022 review” to provide more time for studies, NAB said. IHeartMedia said the FCC should try to do no harm to broadcasters, and eliminating AM subcaps and preserving FM caps would be in the public interest. “Deregulation of the existing ownership rule could very well cause further setbacks in AM radio,” said Salem Media. “Local radio simply cannot compete effectively in today’s market without the ability to expand locally to offer a broader array of formats and services,” said Alpha Media. Midsized radio firms including Connoisseur and Townsquare said jointly that relaxing the caps would aid diversity. “If an industry promises declining revenues as global giants suck revenue out of the market, new entrants (and their investors) will turn to other industries to invest their time and financial resources,” said the radio companies. Nexstar and Gray Television urged eliminating local TV ownership limits and the top four prohibition. “Repealing the Duopoly Rule -- or at least the Top 4 Restriction -- will free broadcasters to do what they do best,” said Gray. All four broadcast network affiliate associations agreed and urged the agency to retain the dual network rule. “It protects against an unfair and counterproductive tilt in favor of the national broadcast networks,” said those groups. The American Television Alliance urged closing “loopholes” -- such as using multicasting to control multiple top four feeds -- that let stations own duopolies. Gray called ATVA’s arguments “deeply misleading.”