McCAIN GRILLS CPB NOMINEES ON LPFM

Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, July 17, 2000

After acknowledging "fine" job CPB board has done in past, Sen. McCain (R-Ariz) questioned 4 board nominees on low-power FM (LPFM), urging them to ask NPR to reexamine its position. At Senate Commerce Committee hearing July 12, Frank Cruz, pres. of Cruz & Assoc., and Katherine Anderson, CFO, Team Washington, who have been renominated for CPB board, responded favorably to McCain's bill, which would let LPFM stations operate unless there were proof they were causing interference to public or commercial radio stations. First-time nominees Ernest Wilson, dir., Center for International Development & Conflict Management, U. of Md., and Kenneth Tomlinson, pres.- dir., National Sporting Library, Middleburg, Va., gave no responses. Nominees received support from committee members, including Senate Majority Leader Lott (R-Miss).

LPFM gives churches and minorities opportunities to set up small broadcasting facilities, producing chances they normally wouldn't have, McCain said. NAB says LPFM will cause interference, but he said his bill would require proof of interference before LPFM station could be shut down. "Much to my surprise," he said, "NPR came out against my legislation and LPFM." With public broadcasters concerned about diversity, "I would hope that you [CPB board] would encourage NPR to reexamine its position," he said.

"I couldn't agree with you more," Cruz said. "I think your legislation is a way to address the concern" about interference. But he said there was real problem about interference and CPB supports 66 minority-owned radio stations. Anderson said she applauded McCain's bill in theory. Even Sen. Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) was in favor, saying "I think it's a very good solution."

"Like Senator McCain, NPR supports the idea of LPFM," NPR said later. "We are in support of more diversity on the airwaves. However, our member stations have concerns about interference" so NPR would like to see more testing before it's implemented. NPR said it supported HR-3439, which House passed in April, and hoped Senate would consider that bill. Measure provides for further field testing and would allow some LPFM stations to be licensed, but under 3rd adjacent interference protection, NPR said.

Rockefeller grilled nominees on fact that public broadcasting viewers and listeners were low percentage of total audience. "One of the things that troubles me, as a lover of classical music," he said, is continued small number of public radio listeners to classical music. Rockefeller said low figure was "very, very disturbing." Acknowledging he might be wrong about number who watch or listen to PTV or radio, he asked nominees how board could fight trend besides providing funding.

Citing 8 stations dedicated to classical music, Cruz said CPB helped by funding them for several projects that improved operations. He cited report showing 82% of viewers believe PBS still is as important as in past. Public TV is safe haven for children, Cruz said.

Despite questioning, CPB nominees received support from both parties. Lott, referring to past public broadcasting problems with list selling, said, "I think progress has been made" and gave his support for all 4 nominees. McCain said he believed all were qualified to serve on CPB board and said he had long-term relationship with Tomlinson.