Don't Nix FM Subcaps, MMTC, NABOB Ask Pai, O'Rielly and Staff
The FCC shouldn't eliminate FM subcaps or incentivize broadcast incubators with ownership waivers but should be more robust in enforcing equal employment opportunity and pirate radio rules, said the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and the Multicultural Media, Telecom…
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and Internet Council in meetings Wednesday with Chairman Ajit Pai, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, aides to Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr, and Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey, said a filing posted Monday in docket 14-50. The FCC should consider eliminating only AM subcaps, “which could encourage more AM ownership,” MMTC and NABOB said. “Elimination of the FM subcap would lead to a rapid deterioration in the AM service and undermine the Commission’s AM revitalization efforts.” The agency is seen likely to relax subcap rules as part of the upcoming 2018 quadrennial review (see 1805220053). If the FCC lets companies that incubate new entrants into broadcasting receive ownership waivers, it “would be certain to embroil the program in the media structural ownership litigation,” the groups said. The FCC can act to eliminate cronyism by better enforcement of EEO rules, the groups said. “The agency should reform its audit program so it can verify that hiring decisions are made after jobs are posted, and not before.” The FCC should pursue legislation granting it more power to enforce the rules against unlicensed broadcasting, said MMTC and NABOB. “The Commission should make it clear that it will enforce the law equally throughout the nation regardless of the race of a neighborhood’s residents.”