In accordance with the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the FCC has given out over a hundred licenses for new digital television service. But they have yet to say what it means for local digital broadcasters to operate in the public interest. A coalition of over a hundred community groups, People for Better TV, petitioned the FCC to open an Inquiry and set clear guidelines to determine the public interest obligations of television broadcasters. The FCC responded with an official inquiry in March 2000. Building a relationship with your local broadcasters.
Many broadcasters care about serving the public.
There are television reporters and producers and public affairs and community affairs directors and general managers and news directors and program directors and editors and camera people across the country who are in the profession because they care about telling human stories and connecting with and even helping people. Reach out to them. They want to hear from you, and many are willing to work with you to get your issue before the local community. While we struggle to get those guidelines back, don t wait. Reach out, there are many broadcasting professionals who will be strengthened in their commitment to serve you by the fact that you care enough to try to work with them.