Operating in the public interest for the local area

[Robert S Chase]

The flip side of the fairness doctrine (policy consideration in the 
communications acts) was that the radio and television stations would 
operate in the public interest and the local stations would originate and 
provide local service. The intention was that local matters would have an 
outlet. When the locally owned cable companies came in and undercut the 
broadcast monopoly, the local authorizing boards were able to force them to 
follow a similar policy. For a while it made sense for the cable companies. 
Now with cable dropping in its spots with technology allowing them to target 
their market from miles away from the head end, they no longer need local 
origination. What's killing local radio as a business model is the bigger 
bang the same ad can get on the cable. On the other hand, my wife always 
reads the newspaper for their supermarket inserts and junk ad inserts.

On another subject concerning radio's competition, how will the Wi-Wi 
startups work technically and of course I'll bet that at the beginning at 
least they won't pay copyright fees although they are required to. 
http://www.soundexchange.com/


> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 11:02:26 -0500
> From: "Jim Hall" <aerie.ma@comcast.net>

> Lowell Cable TV used to have their own studio and evening local news also.
> Steve Cooper of Channel 7 and Julie Seitter formerly of WBZ Radio used to 
> be
> the anchors.
>
> -When AT&T took over they cut local to the bone and then Comcast
> -scrapped what was left. Cambridge for example had a full blown studio
> -on Sherman St that C-Span used often and a high quality remote truck.