Public Files and such

[fccfight]

Anyone know the sanctions from the FCC if negative letters to public files are
deceptively thrown away?

Have radio stations been caught writing positive Public File letters?

I've heard all sorts of horror stories, one station opening up a "special file"
so that the negative and factual letter, sent certified, didn't get into the "public file".

It seems this is an important tool that the public doesn't know much about,
and one that the radio stations seem to be very aware of - and sometimes
negligent when people walk in off the street and want to read it.

Anyone got some classic Public File letters to post here?

Classic stories? You can remain anonymous!

Keep in mind, if you have something positive to say, those letters
are welcome to. Send a positive letter to WJIB.

Send a negative letter to WRKO.

Do it today!

 

[fccfight]

also, the advertisers Re: Public Files and such

Oh, after you put a letter in the public file,
cc: it to as many of the advertisers on the John DePetro
show as possible. That'll get their attention.
If the advertisers don't know about the fiasco in Rhode Island,
enlighten them.

> Anyone know the sanctions from the FCC if negative letters
> to public files are
> deceptively thrown away?
>
> Have radio stations been caught writing positive Public File
> letters?
>
> I've heard all sorts of horror stories, one station opening
> up a "special file"
> so that the negative and factual letter, sent certified,
> didn't get into the "public file".
>
> It seems this is an important tool that the public doesn't
> know much about,
> and one that the radio stations seem to be very aware of -
> and sometimes
> negligent when people walk in off the street and want to
> read it.
>
> Anyone got some classic Public File letters to post here?
>
> Classic stories? You can remain anonymous!
>
> Keep in mind, if you have something positive to say, those
> letters
> are welcome to. Send a positive letter to WJIB.
>
> Send a negative letter to WRKO.
>
> Do it today!
>

 

[Les]

You miss the point of the PF

The general purpose of the public file is to contain information that might be of value or interest to the public. I've never seen an FCC inspector do anything other than check the file to be sure required content is there. Read it? Never to my experience. In fact, I've had two instances where inspectors commented that the most common problem with public files is that too much stuff gets chucked in there and is allowed to remain far beyond the required period. They see that as a negative because it makes the file too thick for a person with a genuine question to wade through.

> Oh, after you put a letter in the public file,
> cc: it to as many of the advertisers on the John DePetro
> show as possible. That'll get their attention.
> If the advertisers don't know about the fiasco in Rhode
> Island, enlighten them.

The first letter might. But an orchestrated campaign is obvious
and most people throw the second near-identical letter, and all
subsequent, in the trash unread.

The only way The FCC would know that there should be a letter in the
public file at any given station would be for the sender to also
provide it to the FCC separately with some sort of proof of mailing
that bears a signature. Even then, they're wise to orchestrated
campaigns and are highly unlikely to make a special inspection though
it's not impossible they might take an interest around license
renewal time.

Remember, a documented complaint about indecency IS likely to get
attention. A "Wahhh Wah....I don't like what they said" complaint
is likely to be dropped like a hot potato since to do anything
with it would be messing with content...something they're not allowed
to do except under very narrowly defining rules.

But, certainly, folks who express themselves in writing are far
less to become violent so it's all for the good!<P ID="signature">______________
I once took something seriously.
And was accused of shoplifting.</P>

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

the point of the PF

The way it USED to be:

The Public File was retained by the station to bolster their position that they are, indeed, operating as a responsible broadcaster, for the good of the general public. At license renewal time, a rival group, who wanted that license for themselves, could challenge the existing programmer. Example: THEY do 3 hours per week of public affairs/PSA's. If you give that license to US, we will will do 4 hours per week, because we are wonderful human beings, and would do a better job serving the "public interest, convenience and necessity".

With all of the deregulation of the industry, this point has been greatly watered down, but is still on the books. The only time I have ever personally seen somebody come in off the street to view the file, it was a representative from a cable TV company, who was trying to make a case so as to not place the TV station on their cable system.

By all means, go to your local radio/TV station and ask to see the file. Rattle their cage. It keeps us all on our toes...

 

[Retro]

Re: the point of the PF

> The way it USED to be:
>
> The Public File was retained by the station to bolster their
> position that they are, indeed, operating as a responsible
> broadcaster, for the good of the general public. At license
> renewal time, a rival group, who wanted that license for
> themselves, could challenge the existing programmer.
> Example: THEY do 3 hours per week of public affairs/PSA's.
> If you give that license to US, we will will do 4 hours per
> week, because we are wonderful human beings, and would do a
> better job serving the "public interest, convenience and
> necessity".
>
> With all of the deregulation of the industry, this point has
> been greatly watered down, but is still on the books. The
> only time I have ever personally seen somebody come in off
> the street to view the file, it was a representative from a
> cable TV company, who was trying to make a case so as to not
> place the TV station on their cable system.
>
> By all means, go to your local radio/TV station and ask to
> see the file. Rattle their cage. It keeps us all on our
> toes...
>

I still wonder if an email that I sent to a certain station complaining about informercials ever made it into their public file or not? At least I did get a response back from them and they mentioned that people actually liked hearing the informercials, go figure.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

Re: the point of the PF

> I still wonder if an email that I sent to a certain station
> complaining about informercials ever made it into their
> public file or not?

One sure way to find out - go to that station, during regular business hours, and ask to see the file!

 

[wxctintern]

Public Files

I know this is the Boston Board, but this is on topic.

Last year I looked at the public file of WXCT - Southington, Connecticut. There was a lot of stuff in there.

The FCC paperwork that was filled out when The ADD Radio Group sold the station to Davidson Media Group.

Contracts for all the individuals that were buying time on the station - Past and Present.

The FCC paperwork that was filled out when they changed the stations call letters from WNTY to WXCT.

Paperwork of different engineering reports.

Letters the GM of the station asked the listeners to send to the station trying to convince the new owners to keep the English Lanugage News-Talk programming on the station.

And there was tons of other stuff in there that I don't rememeber. There may have even been a copy of the FCC paperwork from when the station was sold by the Estate of Donato Sarapo (or maybe it was WNTY Inc) to the Add Radio Group. (1999)

I interened at that station on and off from February 2002 until April 2004. I asked the GM to see the Public File right after I signed a brokerage contract in May of last year. He said I was the first person from the general public to ever ask to see the Public File since he became GM in July 2001. (Since my intership ended in April and my show didn't start until June I wasn't consider someone who was connected to the station).

 

[Oldbones]

Re: You miss the point of the PF

> The general purpose of the public file is to contain
> information that might be of value or interest to the
> public. I've never seen an FCC inspector do anything other
> than check the file to be sure required content is there.
> Read it? Never to my experience. In fact, I've had two
> instances where inspectors commented that the most common
> problem with public files is that too much stuff gets
> chucked in there and is allowed to remain far beyond the
> required period. They see that as a negative because it
> makes the file too thick for a person with a genuine
> question to wade through.

And in 25 years in the biz, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people who've come in and wanted to see the PF. A colossal waste of time & resources IMHO.

 

[JIBGUY]

Re: the point of the PF

> I still wonder if an email that I sent to a certain station
> complaining about informercials ever made it into their
> public file or not? At least I did get a response back from
> them and they mentioned that people actually liked hearing
> the informercials, go figure.

They must be lying to you.
>

 

[ajhenderson]

> negligent when people walk in off the street and want to
> read it.

Do any non-radio geeks walk in "off the street" and ask to read a public file?

Not many corporate stations have locations right "off the street" anymore anyway.

 

[ajhenderson]

Re: Public Files

> Contracts for all the individuals that were buying time on
> the station - Past and Present.

Not sure this is necessary. Wouldn't want competing stations calling to undersell our brokered clients, would we?

 

[Neggy]

Re: the point of the PF

> > I still wonder if an email that I sent to a certain
> station
> > complaining about informercials ever made it into their
> > public file or not?
>
> One sure way to find out - go to that station, during
> regular business hours, and ask to see the file!
>
If you are ever in Woburn, in a certain office park.......

In my 5 years at WJUL I never had one request to see the public file.

in my time at WLYN and WAZN not once did anyone ask to see it, but the GM there made sure I knew where it was just in case ( he's a stickler for details like that) I read it one day for grins and I can not think of a bigger waste of paper.

I agree with another posters opinion that it is a waste if time and manpower.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Neggy on 09/13/05 01:58 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Re: the point of the PF

> In my 5 years at WJUL I never had one request to see the
> public file.
>
> in my time at WLYN and WAZN not once did anyone ask to see
> it, but the GM there made sure I knew where it was just in
> case ( he's a stickler for details like that)

In the 23 years I've been involved at WMBR at MIT, there have been a couple of random requests to see theirs. They keep it maintained, and it's part of their in-house training procedure to make sure anyone approved to do air (or run boards) knows where it is. (Whether they all remember for long after completing training is debateable, but I think most do...)

When WMFO at Tufts University was fined by the FCC a few years ago for a number of (mainly technical) violations, one of the items was that their public file was either not in order or not up to snuff, and I think I also heard that the on-air operator at the time may not have known where/what it was, if they were even maintaining one at the time.

 

[cabradio]

Re: Public Files

> Not sure this is necessary. Wouldn't want competing stations
> calling to undersell our brokered clients, would we?


Don't know your FCC regs too well then. I hope you're not in management. You can look it up under Title 47 Part 73. Better yet, I did it for you....

<font color="red">

Sec. 73.3526 Local public inspection file of commercial stations.

(14) Radio and television time brokerage agreements. For commercial
radio and television stations, a copy of every agreement or contract
involving time brokerage of the licensee's station or of another station
by the licensee, whether the agreement involves stations in the same
markets or in differing markets, with confidential or proprietary
information redacted where appropriate. These records shall be retained
as long as the contract or agreement is in force.</font>

A link is also provided, just scroll to (14).

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/...cess.gpo.gov/cfr_2004/octqtr/47cfr73.3526.htm
<P ID="signature">______________



</P>

 

[ajhenderson]

Re: Public Files

> > Not sure this is necessary. Wouldn't want competing
> stations
> > calling to undersell our brokered clients, would we?
>
>
> Don't know your FCC regs too well then. I hope you're not in
> management. You can look it up under Title 47 Part 73.
> Better yet, I did it for you....

Are we talking full-station LMAs or contracts for a half-hour infomercial? If the ladder, I know a couple stations that someone should check in on.

 

[Banjomax]

Re: the point of the PF

> > ...and they mentioned that people actually liked hearing
> > the informercials, go figure.
>
> They must be lying to you.
>
>
If "people" is interpreted as "person", and "person" as "the salesperson who sold the infomercial", then it may be somewhat close to being almost true. Assuming said salesperson actually listens...

Of course there are some out there who actually enjoy listening and/or watching such nonsense. Lucky for them there's a new pill to cure informercial addiction. For $29.95 you get a one month supply of InfoCure, a 16 ounce bottle of water and the 30 minute instructional video delivered right to your door! And if you call in the next 10 minutes, they'll throw in a shiny new toaster oven ABSOLUTELY FREE!! And it's GUARANTEED TO CURE YOUR INFOMERCIAL ADDICTION OR YOUR MONEY BACK!!! Trouble with this particular product is that one of the most common side effects is death (really really teeny tiny print on the bottom of the screen). The video instructs people to get in their bathtub with their shiny new toaster oven... but it works! Most people who follow the instructions NEVER WATCH OR LISTEN TO ANOTHER INFOMERCIAL AGAIN! Of course they aren't doing much else either...

 

[cabradio]

Re: Public Files

It depends on how this line is interpreted.


<font color="red">...time brokerage of the licensee's station...</font>.

Is the client simply an advertiser or are they a "broker"....a line that definately needs more definition.

I would have the Infomercials in there too, but many consider just them as a longer commercial, as they primarily are there to sell a product (an 1800 sec ad). While a lawyer may also be buying time to sell his services, the pitch usually isn't as blatent, and he is more of a "programmer".

As a CYA measure...I would have the infomercials in there...<P ID="signature">______________



</P>