By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 7-23-21
Broadcasters this month pressed the FCC to change course and not force TV and radio stations to pay for a portion of the FCC broadband data collection, from which they said they derive no benefit.
The National Association of Broadcasters, in meetings with the FCC’s Office of Managing Director, said the Commission should only make regulated industries pay user fees on activities that have at least minimal relevance to that industry.
“[F]orcing broadcasters to subsidize over 15% of the costs of the Commission’s broadband mapping activities – from which broadcasters undisputedly receive no benefit – is fundamentally unfair and runs contrary to the public interest in ensuring that broadcasters can continue to effectively serve the needs of their local communities,” the NAB told the FCC. » Read More