Copps Will Hold Town Meetings About Broadcast, Criticizes License Renewal Process

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps says he’ll hold a series of town meetings to give citizens the opportunity to express their views on whether their local radio and TV stations are serving the public interest and should have their licenses renewed.
Speaking at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Copps stated:
“As part of the license renewal process, I believe it is important to go out and hear from members of the community. But that hasn’t happened for years. … As we begin the next round of license renewals for radio this fall and for television in 2004, I intend to hold a series of town meetings in regions where renewals are due in order to hear from communities how their airwaves are being used.”
Copps called the broadcast license renewal process minimal, with no public outreach to local communities.