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Localism

Radio and television broadcasters are an integral part of their local communities. From promoting local causes and organizations and providing local and national news and entertainment, to acting as a lifeline in times of crisis, broadcasters are meeting the needs of their communities every day. Despite this record of public service, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a return to burdensome regulatory requirements on local stations under the guise of "localism." These requirements are not only unnecessary, they in fact threaten stations’ ability to best serve the diverse needs of their communities.

Issue
Providing local and national news, acting as a lifeline in times of crisis, raising monies for charities and local causes, heightening awareness of local events and issues and informing voters – all of these efforts exemplify broadcasters’ everyday commitment to their communities. Local radio and television stations’ dedication to viewers and listeners across the country adds up to unparalleled support of local issues, safer communities, charities and other local groups with greater reach, healthier residents and a helping hand when people need it most.

Local broadcasters excel at meeting the needs of their communities – generating billions of dollars annually in public service through donated air time, fundraising and charitable giving. Despite this record of public service, the FCC has proposed a return to burdensome localism requirements that reflect an outdated regulatory mindset and threaten to harm stations’ ability to best serve the needs of their diverse audiences.

History
The FCC's 2008 proposals to substantially increase localism requirements included: (1) requiring broadcasters to establish permanent community advisory boards to discern the needs of their communities; (2) the adoption of renewal application processing guidelines based on the content of stations’ programming; and (3) burdensome changes to rules about the location and staffing of stations’ studios.

In support of local broadcasters, more than 180 members of Congress wrote to the FCC expressing significant concern about, and outright opposition to, new localism requirements. Twenty-six members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) sent a letter to then-FCC Chairman Kevin Martin urging him to modify the proposals. Citing the adverse impact on minority-owned broadcasters, the members were particularly concerned about the proposals to require 24-hour station staffing and the re-location of many stations’ main studios. Such onerous and costly requirements could force some minority-owned radio and television station owners out of business, leading to a further reduction of diversity in the industry.

These members joined a chorus of other lawmakers who voiced concern over the FCC's localism proposals. One letter, signed by 123 members of the House of Representatives, voiced opposition to "radical re-regulation" that would "turn back the clock” by “imposing a series of new and burdensome regulations on broadcasters."

NAB Position
Broadcasters are the leading providers of local public service. Station managers and personnel live in their local communities and know well how to serve the diverse needs of communities across the country.

The FCC's localism proposals would impose a significant financial hardship on local stations, with little tangible benefit to the public. With ever increasing market pressures, new regulatory burdens are unnecessary because without locally-oriented programming and services, broadcasters will not survive. And the survival of many broadcast outlets – particularly in smaller markets – is at stake during the current economic crisis.

If these new rules are adopted, they will represent reversal of decades of sound policy. In the early 1980s, even before broadcasters faced serious competition from cable, satellite and the Internet, the FCC determined that similar regulatory requirements were an unnecessary burden that did not promote the public interest. Such regulatory burdens are clearly unnecessary in today's dynamically competitive and diverse media marketplace.

Action Needed
Neither Congress nor the FCC should impose unnecessary burdens on local stations that would only divert scarce resources away from serving local viewers and listeners, especially in today’s difficult economic environment.



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