Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 18:18:19 -0500
Reply-To: [r k ba] at [xpresso.seaslug.org]
From: [r k ba] at [xpresso.seaslug.org] (Bill Vance)
Subject: FCC Public File Auto-FAQ

This "FAQ" is auto-posted once a month via cron triggered script, and may be
triggered off by hand from time to time in between if the info is requested
by someone, such as when the House recently voted down the AW Ban and the
Media threw a hissy fit.

The purpose of this FAQ is to inform people what they can do about Media
generated lies and misinformation.  While the FCC only handles Broadcast
Media, (TV and Radio), some of these techniques will work for magazines and
newspapers too.

If I've missed something, or you find errors, let me know and I'll add/fix
it.

1.a.  Send letters of complaint to the Station Manager every time it happens
      with all the time, details, other info, and your complaint(s).

1.b.  Send an additional copy for their FCC (Federal Communications
      Commission) Public file.

1.c.  Send an additional copy to the FCC itself, in case they don't put it
      in their Public file.

2.a.  Send a letter of complaint to their Station Owner as per above, with
      copies as per above (1.b and 1.c).

3.    Send copies of their replies to you along with yours to them to their
      FCC Public file, so that it gets nice and fat, again, with copies to
      the FCC itself.

4.    If you can afford it, send all corespondence by Certified Mail with
      Return Receipt Requested.  Send a copy of the Return Receipt with
      everything that goes to the FCC itself, so that they'll have additional
      evidence if the Station is cheating on their Public File.

5.a.  Watch their commercials for a few days to a week, listing all their
      advertisers.  Go to the Public Library and ask them for help in
      locating those books that have the addresses for the nation's business
      headquarters, look them all up and pass the addresses and phone/FAX
      numbers etc., around so that everyone can bitch to the sponsors.  If
      enough people do that, it'll get back to the station.  Tell them if
      the Station continues their nastiness you'll _consider_ changing to
      brand X, (otherwise they'll just write you off).

5.b.  The above, (5.a.), is a lot easier and less time consuming if you're
      dealing with a newspaper's or a magazine's ads.

6.    If they put on something good or even just more reasonable, call and
      compliment them on it, but do _not_ send any kudos to their FCC file,
      or write to them about it.  That way they have to keep it up and hope,
      as there is nothing good in the file or in writing that they can show
      the FCC to justify their Station's License.

--
An _EFFECTIVE_  | The _only_important_difference_ between Nazi-ism, Fascism,
weapon in every | Communism, Communitarianism, Socialism and (Neo-)Liberalism
hand = Freedom  | is the _spelling_, and that the last group hasn't got the
on every side!  | brains to figure it out.  --  Bill Vance