Federal Communications Commission	"FCC  XX-XXX"


STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI

Re:	Reexamination of the Comparative Standards and Procedures for Licensing Noncommercial Educational Broadcast and Low Power FM Stations (MB Docket No. 19-3)

Over the last twenty years, the FCC has opened numerous filing windows and evaluated thousands of applications for noncommercial educational (NCE) FM radio and low power FM stations.  Many of these applications were “mutually exclusive,” as we say—two or more were in conflict and could not simultaneously be granted.  That made them subject to our rules for evaluating which ones would prevail.

These rules have enabled the launch of thousands of new radio stations providing a wide variety of content to American listeners.  But some of them are needlessly complex and can trip up well-intentioned but inexperienced applicants seeking to bring new radio service to their communities.  For instance, on at least one occasion, several applicants had their application point totals reduced because they did not properly amend their governing documents.

With this Notice, we tee up proposals to address this and other issues.  For example, we propose to eliminate requirements involving language that must be included in an organization’s governing documents in order for that organization to be favorably recognized under our rules.  Essentially, we’re aiming to provide greater clarity to broadcast applicants, and thus make the process easier for them, deliver more new services to the listening public, and reduce appeals of our comparative licensing decisions.

As always, I’d like to thank the hard-working staff who worked on this complex Notice.  From the Media Bureau: Irene Bleiweiss, James Bradshaw, Michelle Carey, Tom Horan, Tom Hutton, Holly Saurer, Lisa Scanlan, Al Shuldiner, Amy Van De Kerckhove, and Mike Wagner.  And from the Office of General Counsel: Susan Aaron, Dave Konczal, and Royce Sherlock.


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