Re: KMTP San FRancisco was fined $10 grand for airing advertisements
KMTP has had problems and been fined by the FCC for running actual commercials (as differentiated from underwriting announcements) in its programs.
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2005/FCC-05-180A1.html, which states in part:
In the underlying NAL (Notice of Apparent Liability) and Forfeiture Order (for $10,000)
proceeding, the Bureau sanctioned Minority for its willful
and repeated broadcast of approximately 1,911 prohibited
advertisements over noncommercial educational Station KMTP-
TV, San Francisco, California, during a 26-month period
commencing in January 2000.4 In so acting, the Bureau also
dismissed, as moot, Minority's related June 13, 2000,
Request for Declaratory Ruling.
---
There are notable differences between the a commercial (aka an advertisement) and a proper underwritiing announcement, as outlined by the FCC.
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/public_and_broadcasting.html#UNDERWRITING
Which reads: (as I've modified to emphasize certain parts with bold/italic and better formatting)
Underwriting Announcements on Noncommercial-Educational Stations.
Noncommercial educational stations may acknowledge contributions over the air, but
they may not promote the goods and services of for-profit donors or underwriters.
Acceptable "enhanced underwriting" acknowledgements of for-profit donors may include
(1) logograms and slogans that identify but do not promote;
(2) location information;
(3)
value-neutral descriptions of a product line or service; and
(4) brand names, trade names, and product service listings.
However, such acknowledgements may not interrupt a noncommercial station's regular programming.
[See Noncommercial Nature of Educational Broadcasting for additional information.
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/nature.html ]
--end quotation-
In the document
Noncommercial Nature of Educational Broadcasting, The FCC notes the definition of an advertisement:
Section 399B [of the Communications Act] provides, in pertinent part:
(a) For purposes of this section, the term "advertisement" means any message or other programming material which is broadcast or otherwise transmitted in exchange for any remuneration, and which is intended --
(1) to promote any service, facility, or product offered by any person who is engaged in such offering for profit;
(2) to express the views of any person with respect to any matter of public importance or interest;
(3) to support or oppose any candidate for public office.
So... if you see or hear something on KMTP or any other non-commercial broadcast station that violates the above... you have the basis for a complaint to the FCC. If you can record the offending broadcast, you've got something that would be good evidence.
Ted.
