Public Broadcasting
Public broadcasting was designed to provide an opportunity for experimentation and innovation — an outlet for alternative viewpoints and perspectives that are underrepresented in the commercial television marketplace. But reduced funding for public broadcasting and several ill- advised policy changes threaten to commercialize and de-localize this precious resource.
Local Noncommerical Radio
The effects of the changes in public broadcasting funding and policy became painfully clear during MAP’s recent successful effort to prevent the sale of a radio station which would have permitted, for the first time, a commercial broadcaster to also own a non-commercial station.
Because of the fiscal crisis in the nation’s capitol, the University of the District of Columbia auctioned the right to buy its noncommercial, all-jazz station (WDCU-FM). WDCU-FM was known nationwide not only for its increasingly rare format, but also for its excellent local programming and large (4th in the nation for public stations) African- American listenership. The winning bidder was a so-called “non-profit” subsidiary of Salem Broadcasting, the largest commercial religious radio broadcaster in the United States. Salem bid $13 million for the station, an unheard of price for a noncommercial license.
Representing a listener’s group that sought to preserve WDCU’s jazz format, MAP worked with National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to scrutinize the sale of the station to Salem. MAP was the first to raise the concern that the “non-profit” subsidiary was a mere shell for the for-profit entity. MAP advocated its position through the trade and mainstream press. The pressure MAP wrought caused Salem to forego its attempt to buy the station. The station was later bought by C-SPAN, a bona fide non-profit.
While MAP was unable to ensure that the station continued as a beacon for the local African-American community, that result was rendered nearly impossible by Reagan-era FCC decisions that permit entities with no ties to a local community to hold noncommercial radio licenses. MAP will work with the FCC to attempt to close this critical loophole.
Preserving the Noncommercial Character of Public Television in the Digital Age
Digital television presents all broadcasters — private and public TV alike — with new opportunities to profit. But it also holds great potential for increased educational and community based programming. MAP has already met with several public TV leaders to discuss their plans for the digital future.
One plan proposed by some public broadcasters is causing MAP great concern, however. The Association of Public Television Stations and the Public Broadcasting Service have asked the FCC to give them permission to provide advertiser-supported programming on their excess digital television capacity. They argue that as long as they provide one free, noncommercial service, they should be free to do what they wish with the remainder of their capacity. MAP has officially opposed this request at the FCC on the basis that noncommercial licenses are granted for one purpose — noncommercial service, and that the plain language of the Communications Act prohibits the public broadcasters’ plan.