Abstract
The 2009 digital transition ushered in a new era of broadcasting that not only transformed TV transmission, frequency, and picture quality, but also redefined stations’ rights to spectrum space. To date, a limited range of scholarship critically examines this revolution—particularly, the transition’s impact on local public broadcasters. This paper critically analyzes these issues, specifically focusing on the FCC’s repackaging process and the 2016 auction in which a sizeable number of struggling broadcasters sold spectrum licenses to curb budget deficits. To shed light onto these issues, this paper examines two case studies of local public broadcasters involved in the FCC auction: WBGU of Bowling Green OH and WYCC of Chicago, IL. The circumstances surrounding WBGU and WYCC and their entrance into the auction vary widely as well as the results of the sales, thus offering a diverse glimpse into the challenges local public media faces after the digital switch. By examining press releases and files from the FCC, as well as financial records, budgets, programming schedules from PBS, WBGU, and WYCC, this paper argue that the sustainability of noncommercial local broadcasting is severely threatened by the FCC’s ongoing monetization of frequency. Additionally, as this paper demonstrates, local public broadcasters are heavily affected by the distinct needs and economic factors of each community they serve. And as this paper demonstrates, the impacts of the FCC’s current practices and philosophies, digitalization has proved to be detrimental to local public broadcasters and the PBS model.
Presenters
Emily MerrillStudent, PhD Candidate, American Cultural Studies , Bowling Green State University, Michigan, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
LOCAL PUBLIC BROADCASTING, BANDWIDTH, FREQUENCY, SPECTRUM SPACE, FCC AUCTION
