Digital Future of Public Media

These Reply Comments were submitted on behalf of Benton Foundation, Campaign Legal Center, Center for Governmental Studies, Common Cause, Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Inc., and Prometheus Radio Project (collectively “Public Interest Coalition” or “PIC”) in the Commission’s Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service, MM Docket No. 99-325, 22 FCCRcd 10344 (2007) (“Second FNPRM”).

For the complete document, please see the attached PDF… more

Eight public-interest and consumer groups have asked the Federal Communications Commission to reject requests by two large telecommunication providers to close off their copper voice and data networks to competitors in 10 U.S. cities.

The groups, including the Consumer Federation of America, Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation, sent a letter to the FCC Tuesday, saying attempts by Verizon Communications Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. to end wholesale price controls on their copper networks would result in "significant rate… more

When a unit of Samsung Electronics Co. appeared arm in arm earlier this year with companies pushing the government to open unused airwaves for inexpensive wireless Internet service, other parts of the South Korean conglomerate were less than pleased.

Samsung (SSNLF) boasts a vast reach into markets ranging from cell phones to televisions. In this instance, that diversity has the company in the odd position of arguing both for and against the hot-button notion of tapping unused TV airwaves in… more

When a group of companies with a combined market value of nearly $1 trillion decides it wants a favor from the federal government, it shouldn’t have trouble making quick time of the opposition.

Such a super-wealthy group is the White Spaces Coalition, formed by the likes of Google, Microsoft, Intel, Dell and Hewlett-Packard. Their goal is to provide advanced wireless communications services on vacant TV channels without having to secure licenses from the FCC at auction.

But the alliance of deep-pocketed technology… more

With the transition to digital radio, the Commission has a rare opportunity to address documented failures in providing listeners with diverse and local programming. The transition to digital will provide broadcasters with additional programming capacity, and the Commission must use this opportunity to promote its goals of diversity, localism, and competition. The Public Interest Coalition supports the Commission’s efforts to ensure that with the additional programming capacity, broadcasters, in return for the exclusive… more

The FCC should reconsider its decision to allow incumbent radio licensees to expand into neighboring spectrum without imposing additional public interest requirements. The Second Report & Order is premised on the unexamined and unsupported assumption that the Commission is not assigning new spectrum for mutually exclusive commercial uses to incumbent licensees. Because of this erroneous premise, the FCC completely fails to consider a key question of whether the spectrum should be used for alternative purposes, such as noncommercial low power… more

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The media landscape is changing at a breakneck pace. Media can now be consumed over a plethora of devices anywhere, anytime, and on-demand. The advent of digital convergence and broadband wireless technology creates enormous opportunities to fulfill pressing public needs in areas such as education and workforce development, civic discourse, and public health. But in an era in which resources for public service media and R&D for advanced educational technology are tight, technological change also poses enormous challenges.

In its recent report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, the National Academies concluded what many have long feared to be true -- that the nation's outdated K-12 educational system is inadequately preparing America's youth for the jobs and global competition of the 21st Century. One of the most promising ways to remedy this is by investing in the research and development of advanced learning technologies, a.k.a. “Serious Games.” To commemorate House Innovation Week, the New America Foundation and Digital Promise,… more

In its recent report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, the National Academies concluded what many have long feared to be true — that the nation's outdated K-12 educational system is inadequately preparing America's youth for the jobs and global competition of the 21st Century. One of the most promising ways to remedy this is by investing in the research and development of advanced learning technologies, a.k.a. “Serious Games.” We all know of the power of video games to captivate and… more