NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: October 27, 2011 Janice Wise (202) 418-8165 Email: janice.wise@fcc.gov FCC TAKES FIRST STEP TO MODERNIZE TELEVISION BROADCAST PUBLIC INSPECTION FILES Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today took a major step toward modernizing the way television broadcasters inform the public about how they serve their communities. The Commission adopted an Order on Reconsideration that vacates a 2007 Report and Order (R&O), and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), which proposes a new approach that would require commercial and noncommercial television stations to submit documents to an online public file hosted by the Commission. The 2007 R&O largely replaced a decades-old requirement that television stations maintain a paper public inspection file in their main studio with one that required the files be available on their stations’ Internet website, if they had one. Those rules were never put into effect because of legal challenges. The FNPRM seeks comment on proposals that would reduce burdens on the broadcast industry. The Further Notice proposes to streamline the information broadcasters will need to provide by requiring the Commission to import information already filed with the FCC, and exempts certain items from being posted online such as letters and emails from the public. It further seeks comment on posting sponsorship identification information, now disclosed only on-air, and shared services agreements online as part of the public inspection file hosted by the Commission. The FCC’s action today is consistent with the government-wide effort to increase transparency, and the FCC’s broader efforts to modernize data and move its processes from paper to digital. The Commission seeks comment on any other revisions or additions to its rules that would make the information about broadcast service more accessible to the public, improving the dialogue between broadcast stations and the communities they serve while reducing compliance burdens on broadcasters. Action by the Commission October 27, 2011, by Order on Reconsideration and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 11-162). Chairman Genachowski, Commissioners Copps and Clyburn with Commissioner McDowell concurring in part. Separate statements issued by Chairman Genachowski, Commissioners Copps, McDowell, and Clyburn. For further information, contact Holly Saurer (202-418-7283; holly.saurer@fcc.gov). Press contact: Janice Wise (202-418-8165; janice.wise@fcc.gov). -FCC- For news and information about the FCC, please visit: www.fcc.gov