Broadcasters, FCC May Need Dr. Phil To Make Peace

Ajit Pai

Tensions between broadcasters and the Federal Communications Commission have gotten so high that FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai wonders "if it's time to call Dr. Phil and see if he is available to mediate," according to The LA Times.

Broadcasters are upset with some recent FCC moves, including imposing tougher regulations on business partnerships between local TV stations. Last month, National Assn. of Broadcasters President Gordon Smith suggested that the FCC views the television industry as a dinosaur that needs to be put out of business.

In a speech to the Pennsylvania Assn. of Broadcasters on Monday, Pai extended an olive branch to the industry, saying, "Every segment of the industry we regulate should have confidence that the Commission will give them a fair hearing, and none should be under the impression that the FCC is out to get them."

Pai, a Republican, is seen as a closer ally to broadcasters than FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. In his speech, Pai said it is critical that broadcasters be treated fairly in the upcoming spectrum auction. Broadcasters have been asked to voluntarily give up some of their airwaves so they can be auctioned off to wireless companies.

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InsideRadio is reporting that beginning this summer FCC commissioner Ajit Pai will begin holding a series of meetings with station owners, engineers and listeners to discuss the variety of short- and long-term proposals that have been floated to fix AM radio.

“We need to sort through them and figure out which ones merit action and which ones need further study,” he told the PAB Monday morning in Hershey, PA.  Pai said he’d like to see some action taken to help AM radio by Halloween.