Statement of REC Networks: Chairman Carr's letter to NPR/PBS

Chairman Carr was wrong, but he was also correct.

On that letter from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to NPR & PBS:

Chairman Carr was wrong…

He used his position at the FCC in an official capacity to endorse future legislation to eliminate the Corporate for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which is outside of the jurisdiction of the FCC; using intimidation, through threats of enforcement action, for issues that are within the jurisdiction of the FCC (i.e. underwriting acknowledgements).

But, Chairman Carr was also correct…

Some (but not all) of the underwriting announcements that are heard on NPR member stations, including those locally produced and those from national programs, have been treading the line and in many cases, crossing the line between identification and promotion.

Some of the national underwriting announcements on PBS also go well over the line, especially where visuals of the product or service is being shown. This goes well beyond identification. For TV, we need to return to the blank backgrounds and remove logograms for underwriting acknowledgements.

However, any future enforcement issues related to NPR, PBS or any other station that may get caught in Carr’s underwriting dragnet has nothing to do with the CPB, especially considering that there are stations (that are not LPFM) that are not NPR, but they do receive Community Service Grants from CPB. And, at the same time, many NCE stations, including LPFM, can also get caught up in this dragnet, despite never being eligible to receive CSG.

NPR, PBS and their members need to clean up their own houses.

Independent secular and faith based LPFM and full-service NCE also need to check their underwriting copy to assure compliance.

CPB and FCC may share space in the Communications Act, but the FCC is not the CPB.

CSG grants not just go to quality local programming that meets local needs, it also goes to help maintain and improve our underlying broadcast infrastructure.

Stay in your lane Brendy.