Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 3, 2007 13:57:36 GMT -5
Native American broadcasters call for cap on non-commercial radio applications
Submitted by jonathan on Mon, 2007-06-04 06:54. Radio | Newswire
Full Story:
by Matthew Lasar , LAsar Letter
An alliance of Native American public radio stations has asked the Federal Communications Commission to put a limit on the number of applications groups can submit for a non-commercial radio station license.
The request comes from Native Public Media (NPM) and addresses application rules for new non-commercial educational (NCE) radio station signals that non-profits will be able to compete for in the Fall.
"Absent limitations, NPM anticipates that the Commission will face an avalanche of applications," the group, which represents over 30 stations, warned in a statement filed on May 30th. "Limiting the number of applications that can be filed will encourage serious applicants to perform the appropriate due diligence for a few carefully selected sites and will prevent 'mass' application filings by parties that do not have a sincere interest in actually constructing and operating stations."
In early April the FCC announced that it will open a filing window for non-commercial stations to begin on Friday, October 12th and last through the following Friday the 19th.
NPM wants the Commission to set a limit of no more than ten applications for a single party. The organization also wants the FCC to devote one of its upcoming Indian Telecommunications Initiatives (ITI) conferences to informing tribes about how to apply for stations.
The FCC has set up panels on the matter at earlier ITI events. NPM has asked for more workshops scheduled in a city close to Indian country, such as Albuquerque, New Mexico, or Denver, Colorado.
In addition, NPM has petitioned the FCC to modify its point system for evaluating NCE applications, giving one additional point to applications filed by federally recognized Native American tribes.
If more than one party files for an NCE station in a given area, the FCC uses a point system to decide which applicant deserves the station. The agency gives points to applicants that promise to broadcast at least half the day (12 hours), pledge to air eight or more hours of local programming, and who have existed in non-profit form in their community for at least two years.
NPM's proposal would amount to an extra point for tribal applicants.
"The establishment of such a point [for federally recognized tribes] would be a step towards acknowledging tribal sovereignty," NPM concludes, "and would promote longstanding Commission policy goals in the provision of broadcast service, including competition, localism, and diversity."
NPM's 33 member stations include KILI in Porcupine, South Dakota, and Hopi station KUYI in Hotevilla, Arizona.
Submitted by jonathan on Mon, 2007-06-04 06:54. Radio | Newswire
Full Story:
by Matthew Lasar , LAsar Letter
An alliance of Native American public radio stations has asked the Federal Communications Commission to put a limit on the number of applications groups can submit for a non-commercial radio station license.
The request comes from Native Public Media (NPM) and addresses application rules for new non-commercial educational (NCE) radio station signals that non-profits will be able to compete for in the Fall.
"Absent limitations, NPM anticipates that the Commission will face an avalanche of applications," the group, which represents over 30 stations, warned in a statement filed on May 30th. "Limiting the number of applications that can be filed will encourage serious applicants to perform the appropriate due diligence for a few carefully selected sites and will prevent 'mass' application filings by parties that do not have a sincere interest in actually constructing and operating stations."
In early April the FCC announced that it will open a filing window for non-commercial stations to begin on Friday, October 12th and last through the following Friday the 19th.
NPM wants the Commission to set a limit of no more than ten applications for a single party. The organization also wants the FCC to devote one of its upcoming Indian Telecommunications Initiatives (ITI) conferences to informing tribes about how to apply for stations.
The FCC has set up panels on the matter at earlier ITI events. NPM has asked for more workshops scheduled in a city close to Indian country, such as Albuquerque, New Mexico, or Denver, Colorado.
In addition, NPM has petitioned the FCC to modify its point system for evaluating NCE applications, giving one additional point to applications filed by federally recognized Native American tribes.
If more than one party files for an NCE station in a given area, the FCC uses a point system to decide which applicant deserves the station. The agency gives points to applicants that promise to broadcast at least half the day (12 hours), pledge to air eight or more hours of local programming, and who have existed in non-profit form in their community for at least two years.
NPM's proposal would amount to an extra point for tribal applicants.
"The establishment of such a point [for federally recognized tribes] would be a step towards acknowledging tribal sovereignty," NPM concludes, "and would promote longstanding Commission policy goals in the provision of broadcast service, including competition, localism, and diversity."
NPM's 33 member stations include KILI in Porcupine, South Dakota, and Hopi station KUYI in Hotevilla, Arizona.