2005 is the year for Ohio's television station license renewal

Last summer the Free Press ran a brief article about the licensing of Ohio's broadcast radio stations and the public's chance to offer public comment. How many Free Press readers took advantage of this timing and reviewed files and then, in turn, filed their own comments is not known but all stations with a license were renewed for the extended period of 10 years! To some, this is not good news for local stories, multiple opinions, investigative journalism and even music diversity!

This summer we have a sort of "second chance" to make our individual and collective voices heard. October 1 is the deadline for public comments about the performance of television stations across Ohio and some other parts of the country. Perhaps, if you are a TV watcher, you've seen an announcement inviting you to view the public file held at that station's business office? If so, you should know the stations are required by the FCC not only to announce this process but to provide the public with information to be kept in the file for public review.

We want as many people in Central Ohio as possible to review the file and we know it will take a commitment. As such, we are holding a brief workshop on license renewal, file review, and public comment as well as following FCC decision-making. We'll go over what is to be in the file, what your rights are as reviewer, and give you materials to help in your review and in making your comments to the FCC!

If you are interested in having a speaker/presenter come to your organization to discuss this issue and encourage your membership to do the public review and comment, please contact michel4justice@yahoo.com (put "FCC RENEWAL" in subject line) or call 614-447-0012 and leave contact name and info to schedule one of the limited workshops.