Spotlight Feature: The FCC Rules & The Public File

By Frank Macek

Ever wonder what rules that WKYC and other television stations must follow in order to keep their broadcast licenses?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) often updates its rules and issues them to stations as a guideline to serving in the public interest. These rules cover such topics as obscene programming, indecent material, children's television programming, lotteries and contests, closed captioning and a myriad of other areas.

Each station must maintain a "public file" which is available to members of the public at any time during regular business hours. This file must contain documents relevant to the station's operation and dealings with the community and the FCC and must be maintained at the station's main studio, which for WKYC is at 1333 Lakeside Avenue in Cleveland. Although you do not need to make an appointment to view the file, making one may be helpful both to the station and to you.

Contents of the public file include the station's license, applications and related materials, citizen agreements, contour broadcasting maps, material relating to an FCC investigation or complaint, ownership reports and related materials, list of contracts required to be filed with the FCC, political file, EEO materials, and letters and emails from the public. Additionally, stations are required to keep quarterly programming reports, children's television programming reports, records regarding children's programming commercial limits, time brokerage agreements, lists of donors, local public notice announcements, must carry or retransmission consent election and the DTV transition consumer education education activity reports.

As you can clearly see, it can be a full time job keeping all these reports. However, it's a requirement for all broadcast stations.

If you would like to read a copy of "The Public and Broadcasting: How to Get the Most Service From Your Local Station," you can download it from us: CLICK HERE