The Republican FCC commissioner says that NAB chief Gordon Smith’s call for a National Broadcast Plan could backfire on broadcasters.
NAB 2014
FCC’s O’Rielly: Careful What You Wish For
A National Association of Broadcasters request for the FCC to launch a National Broadcast Plan may not be in the industry’s best interests — at least not according to Commissioner Michael O’Rielly.
“I worry what could be in parts of such a plan for your business,” said O’Rielly, one of the two GOP FCC commissioners, during a panel session at the NAB Show on Tuesday.
NAB President-CEO Gordon Smith proposed the plan during his convention keynote speech, contending that a broadcast plan was needed to balance the federal government’s focus on promoting broadband — and be aimed at strengthening broadcasting. Smith also said such a study should use a “holistic” approach, starting with a thorough review of all regulation.
But during the Tuesday panel session, O’Rielly suggested that broadcasters think twice before opening the door for a review by the same commissioners who recently voted to crack down on joint sales agreements, “the same people who just decided things that were against your interests.”
During an earlier presentation at the show Tuesday morning, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said the agency would conduct such a review, if Congress mandated and funded it. That was a sentiment his two Democratic colleagues — Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel — subsequently shared.
FCC Commissioner Aji Pai, the FCC’s second GOP commissioner, declined comment.
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Rick Kaplan, NAB EVP, said O’Rielly appeared to be thinking of the plan more like a series of regulatory mandates, but that Smith had been thinking of it more in terms of “just a vision” of where the FCC sees broadcasting fitting in.
Comments (2)
Matthew Castonguay says:
April 9, 2014 at 9:29 am
The track that the FCC is on takes U.S. media into an era of information, sports and entertainment haves and have-nots. A comprehensive review would have to look at issues of efficiency (millions of people watching the same thing without millions of 1-1 connections), costs and availability to all U.S. consumers. The parties that are driving the FCC agenda today all want to charge for everything, while crowding free OTA TV out of the picture. This goes directly against the drumbeat of “equality” and “equal access” – although this may not become clear until well after the die is finally cast, unfortunately.
Catherine Herkovic says:
April 26, 2014 at 9:27 am
We need to implement the National Broadcast Plan. Of course after we discuss it. O’Reilly and his self-centered personality doesn’t want it because his salary would decrease. The double edge greed sword with this broadcaster and the corrupt FCC. They still have the idea these are their frequencies! You are there to manage not dictate how are frequencies are used. This is for the people of this country, not foreign investors!