Public Interest Groups Say Online Notices Aren't Enough
Online notice alone of broadcast applications isn’t enough to allow for full public participation, said the Georgetown Law Institute for Public Representation, Common Cause and National Hispanic Media Coalition in a meeting Wednesday with Media Bureau staff, according to a…
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filing posted in docket 17-264 Monday. “Members of the public generally are not aware of their right to comment on and challenge broadcast license applications“ and so are unlikely to check the FCC or broadcasters' websites without some other notice, the filing said. “On-air announcement is necessary to inform members of the public of their right to comment.” Current public notices also don’t “effectively engage” the public or provide enough information, the groups said. The FCC should issue additional notice when a proceeding involves waivers, they said. Broadcasters could combine on-air and online notices without being unduly burdened, by using tactics such as announcing on-air a web address containing additional information, the so-called public interest groups said.