Those are the words of NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith who spoke at a Communications Forum luncheon Tuesday, sponsored by The Media Institute (Smith is also speaking at Radio Ink’s Forecast in New York City, Wednesday). Smith said these are transitional times as local radio and television stations become even more relevant to, and more trusted, by communities. “As broadcasters, we carry the torch of freedom and integrity, and we must use this to question those in power and to find the truth.” Smith also said radio continues to be a strong medium that listeners continue to desire.
Smith then used the Communications Forum to lash out at the FCC over its outdated ownership rules. He said the outdated regulations dating back to the 1970s could hurt broadcasters’ ability to innovate and fairly compete in today’s media landscape. “The communications ecosystem dramatically changed with the advent of the Internet. Sadly, newspapers are struggling in today’s digital world. Even prestigious, long-established newspapers are facing layoffs and major budget cuts as they attempt to adapt to a competitive media landscape. As a result, broadcasters are more and more left carrying the mantle for substantive reliable news and essential investigative journalism. And yet, outdated broadcast ownership rules still remain intact – a regulatory holdover from 1975 that prevents common ownership of a printed daily newspaper and even a single broadcast station in the same local market. These rules are no longer necessary, and in today’s media landscape are unfair and hurt competition.”
Smith said the competitive environment for local broadcasting has changed, and regulatory reform is desperately needed so that broadcasters can keep innovating to effectively serve their communities. “Isn’t it ironic that the FCC will allow mega-mergers in the pay-TV industry, but continues to hold local stations hostage under decades-old, outdated rules?”
