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DirecTV and Dish Get Public Inspection File Citations
7/17/2012
WASHINGTON: Amid the
controversy of a new rule requiring broadcasters to publish their public
inspection files online, the two major satellite TV providers have been cited
for having incomplete files.
Dish and DirecTV today received Notices of Violation from the Federal
Communications Commission over their public inspection files. Both direct broadcast satellite providers were missing required children’s programming documentation. FCC field
inspectors went to Dish’s headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on July 19, 2011.
“At the time of inspection, the agents found that
Dish Network’s public inspection file was missing various children’s
programming records, including the children’s programming records for the
second quarter of 2011,” the FCC’s NV stated. These records were later produced
on July 26, 2011. Such records should have been placed in the public
inspection file no later than July 11, 2011.”
Dish has to explain the mix-up in writing to the FCC within 20 days or risk
further action by the agency.
FCC field agents visited DirecTV’s El Segundo, Calif. offices July 26, (presumably
2011, but the NV says “2012.”)
“At the time of inspection, the agent found that DirecTV’s public inspection
file was missing the children’s programming records for the second quarter of
2011. Such records should have been placed in the public inspection file no
later than July 11, 2011,” the NV said.
DirecTV must bring its public inspection file up to date and explain the
incident in writing to the commission. Both NVs stated they may be “combined
with further action, if further action is warranted.” Both were issued on the
same day that the FCC hosted the first demonstration of its online public
inspection file portal, through which broadcasters must upload their files to
the Internet. (See “FCC
Public File Portal Demo Has Technical Difficulties.”)
~ Deborah D. McAdams
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