[NFCB] File Localism Comments by 4-28-08

[Carol Pierson]

TO:      Station Managers (or anyone who has time)

FR:       Carol Pierson, NFCB

DT:      4/22/08

RE:       Localism Comments

 

Thank you to everyone who participated on the conference call last week.
There were some very good ideas put out and it was very useful for me
and John Crigler, who is writing the comments from NFCB and the Station
Resource Group.We will primarily address the need to treat noncommercial
broadcasters differently than commercial broadcasters. 

 

However, our case will be much stronger if all of you will file short
informal comments about what the impact would be on your station. This
is also a chance to toot your horn with the FCC. I'm including
directions on how to file and some talking points. Please send me a copy
as well. The deadline is Monday, April 28

 

Filing comments electronically:

Go to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/welcome.html

Click "Submit a Filing" in the upper right portion of your screen. The
Cover Sheet will appear.

Only fields labeled REQUIRED must be complete. If you complete the
optional fields your comments will be processed more quickly and can be
researched more easily. Use TAB to navigate between fields.

 

Field 1. PROCEEDING (required): Enter 04-233

Field 2. MAIL CORRESPONDENCE TO (required): click on the button for NAME

Field 3. NAME OF APPLICANT/PETITIONER (required): Enter your name.

Field 6. EMAIL-ID. Enter your email address. You will be notified if
there is a problem with the filing

Fields 7, 8, 9, 10: Enter your mailing address, city, state, and zip

Field 12: Click the arrow and select COMMENT from the list (required)

Field 13: Review for accuracy, then more on to the COMMENTS section

 

You may type in your comments (easiest) or attach a document

1. Type your brief comments directly into the box under "Send a Brief
Comment to the FCC (typed-in)." BE SURE TO ENTER YOU NAME AND ADDRESS IN
THE TEXT. Press the ENTER key at the end of each line. If you wish to
clear your comments and begin again, click on the "Clear Comment" button
to delete everything typed in the box.

 

2. Click "Send Brief Comment to FCC" If an error message pops up, click
"OK" and make the changes. If an error message appears again in a new
page, click your browser's BACK button and fix error(s) accordingly.
Once the error(s) are corrected, click "Send Brief Comment to FCC" to
re-send. The system will navigate to a screen where you can complete
your filing.

 




Or You May Attach a Document

If you choose to send your comments as an attached file, complete the
form directly below the Cover Sheet. You can attach only one document at
a time. Attaching a document requires three steps: 1. Confirm/Enter a
file description; 2. Enter the path and name of the document; and, 3.
Select a file type. You can submit PDF, MS Word, MS Excel, WordPerfect,
Lotus and ASCII Text file format.

 

1. FILE DESCRIPTION. The File Description will be populated with
information based on your selection from field 12 on the Cover Sheet.
Edit this information if necessary.

2. FILE. Enter the directory and file name to be attached or use the
"Browse" button to locate your file. A FILE UPLOAD window will appear.
Locate your file using the "Look in" drop-down window or double clicking
on folders displayed in the window. Once you have located your file,
select it and click the "Open" button.

3. Select one of these file types or convert your file to one of these.
Click on the ? (arrow) and select a file type.

4. Review for accuracy

5. Click "SEND ATTACHED FILE TO FCC." If an error message pops up, click
"OK" and make the changes. If an error message appears again in a new
page, click your browser's "BACK" button and fix error(s) accordingly.
Once the error(s) are corrected, click "SEND ATTACHED FILE TO FCC" only
once to re-send. If you click it more than once, the system may generate
an error or attach your document more than once.

6. If you have more than one attachment, click "ENTER ADDITIONAL
ATTACHEMENTS"

 

Receive Your Confirmation

Click the "Finish Transaction and Receive Confirmation" button. The
system will generate a confirmation page listing the details of your
filing. Print this page for your files in case you need to troubleshoot
problems associated with your filing. This electronic confirmation
informs you that the FCC has received and accepted your filing.

 

Points to Make

1. Ways that you provide local programming to the community. If you had
to do more reporting on this, you would have less time to do the
programming.

2. You have intimate knowledge of the issues of the community because
you have so many volunteers involved in programming and your Board is
made up of people from the community.

3. If you operate unattended, what would be the impact of having to have
someone at the station all of the hours you are on the air. (go off the
air over night, etc.) How you get emergency information on to the air
during the hours that you are unattended?

4. If you have a Main Studio Waiver, what would it mean if that went
away?

5. Do you play local artists? What if you had to report all of this to
the FCC?

 

Comments can be short but we think that having a large number of filings
will be important.

 

 

 

Carol Pierson

President and CEO

National Federation of Community Broadcasters

1970 Broadway, Suite 1000

Oakland, CA 94612

510-451-8200

carol at nfcb.org