Public file
Encyclopedia
A public file is a collection of document
s required by a broadcasting authority to be maintained by all broadcast
stations under its jurisdiction
.
Such a file is required by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) in the United States
, and by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The public inspection file must be maintained at the station's main studio
and it must be accessible to anyone during business hours
. Stations are required to provide copies at the requester's expense, or if the facility is outside of the community of license, provide copies via mail
at their own expense. As of November 2007, the FCC required public inspection files must also be maintained on the station's website , and are optionally distributed to public libraries
in the station's broadcast area for the sake of convenience. In these cases, public correspondence from viewers and political reports are usually left out due to cost concerns or misuse of the information provided.
All or part of the file may be maintained in digital format as long as it is accessible at the time of inspection.
shows the station's frequency, call letters, operating power, transmitter location, etc., as well as any special conditions imposed by the FCC on the station's operation. The license also shows when it was issued and when it will expire.
maps or other information submitted with any application filed with the FCC that reflects the station's service contours and/or its main studio and transmitter location, if there are any, as not all stations are required to have contour maps.
.
employment (EEO).
rule.
s (LMAs) are also included.
or retransmission consent
which they have with local cable TV systems.
Document
The term document has multiple meanings in ordinary language and in scholarship. WordNet 3.1. lists four meanings :* document, written document, papers...
s required by a broadcasting authority to be maintained by all broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
stations under its jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
.
Such a file is required by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The public inspection file must be maintained at the station's main studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
and it must be accessible to anyone during business hours
Business hours
Business hours are the hours during the day in which business is commonly conducted. Typical business hours vary widely by country. By observing common informal standards for business hours, workers may communicate with each other more easily and find a convenient divide between work life and...
. Stations are required to provide copies at the requester's expense, or if the facility is outside of the community of license, provide copies via mail
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
at their own expense. As of November 2007, the FCC required public inspection files must also be maintained on the station's website , and are optionally distributed to public libraries
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
in the station's broadcast area for the sake of convenience. In these cases, public correspondence from viewers and political reports are usually left out due to cost concerns or misuse of the information provided.
All or part of the file may be maintained in digital format as long as it is accessible at the time of inspection.
FCC-required contents
U.S. stations must keep the following materials in their public inspection file:Authorization
The instrument of authorizationInstrument of authorization
The United States Federal Communications Commission uses the term instrument of authorization with its broadcast licensees. It may refer to:-External links:* *...
shows the station's frequency, call letters, operating power, transmitter location, etc., as well as any special conditions imposed by the FCC on the station's operation. The license also shows when it was issued and when it will expire.
Applications and related materials
The public file must contain copies of all applications filed with the FCC that are still pending before either the FCC or the courts. These include applications to sell the station or to modify its facilities (for example, to increase power, change the antenna system, or change the transmitter location). Also, the station must keep copies of any construction or sales application whose grant required us to waive our rules.Citizen agreements
Stations must keep a copy of any written agreements they make with local viewers or listeners. These "citizen agreements" deal with programming, employment, or other issues of community concern. The station must keep these agreements in the public file for as long as they are in effect.Contour maps
The public file must contain copies of any service contourService contour
In US broadcasting, service contour refers to the area in which the Federal Communications Commission predicts and allows coverage....
maps or other information submitted with any application filed with the FCC that reflects the station's service contours and/or its main studio and transmitter location, if there are any, as not all stations are required to have contour maps.
Political file
Per Section 73.1943 http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/octqtr/47cfr73.1943.htm, licensees are required to document each political candidate's broadcasts.Material relating to an FCC investigation or a complaint
Stations must keep material relating to any matter that is the subject of an FCC investigation or complaintComplaint
In legal terminology, a complaint is a formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons that the filing party or parties In legal terminology, a complaint is a formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons (see: cause of action) that the filing party or parties In...
.
Equal employment opportunity file
Per Section 73.2080 http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/octqtr/47cfr73.2080.htm, licensees are required to keep records related to equal opportunityEqual opportunity
Equal opportunity, or equality of opportunity, is a controversial political concept; and an important informal decision-making standard without a precise definition involving fair choices within the public sphere...
employment (EEO).
The Public and Broadcasting
The FCC has a publication entitled The Public and Broadcastinghttp://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/public_and_broadcasting.html, which must be kept in the file.Letters and email from the public
All correspondence from the public must be filed.Issues and programs list
All broadcast facilities must keep a list of program material aired for the betterment of the local community. TV stations must have records concerning commercial limits and children's programming, along with their compliance with the E/IE/I
E/I, which stands for "educational and informative," refers to a type of children's television programming shown in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission requires that every full-service Terrestrial television station in the U.S. show at least three hours of these television...
rule.
Local public notice announcements
Upon filing for license renewal, section 73.3580 http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2005/octqtr/47cfr73.3580.htm states broadcast facilities must make public announcements of their intention to continue broadcasting and notify the community that they may comment on the performance of the licensee. Dates and times of these broadcasts must be maintained in the public file.Time brokerage agreements
For commercial facilities, a copy of every contract or agreement for brokered time must be available. Local marketing agreementLocal marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
s (LMAs) are also included.
Must-carry or retransmission consent election
Class A television stations are required to document any agreements regarding must-carryMust-carry
In cable television, governments apply a must-carry regulation stating that locally-licensed television stations must be carried on a cable provider's system.- Canada :...
or retransmission consent
Retransmission consent
Retransmission consent is an option granted to US television stations as part of the law that granted such stations the option to elect must-carry rights. Under retransmission consent, a full-power US television station may elect to negotiate with a cable system operator for carriage of its...
which they have with local cable TV systems.