Eliminating Correspondence Files Sole Tentative Agenda Item for Jan. 31
Eliminating a requirement that broadcasters keep a hard copy correspondence file will be the focus of the first FCC commissioners' meeting after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, according to a release Tuesday on the tentative agenda for the Jan.…
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31 meeting. Current Chairman Tom Wheeler indicated he will resign Jan. 20, meaning an interim chair, expected to be Commissioner Ajit Pai, likely will conduct the meeting. The so-far sole agenda item is based on a May NPRM that was unanimously supported by all five commissioners and was inspired by Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, Wheeler said then (see 1605250054). The requirement that broadcasters keep a publicly accessible hard copy file in their station is a security risk, O'Rielly said. Along with eliminating the broadcast rule, the NPRM also proposed a similar requirement for cable headend information. Since the NPRM was issued, the proposal to eliminate the hard copy file was the focus of a heated exchange of filings (see 1611180060) between NAB and public interest groups Free Press and the National Hispanic Media Coalition. The public interest groups said eliminating the hard file disadvantages those without access to broadband, and NAB said in support of the proposal that the public rarely if ever requests such files.