Submitted by Benton Foundation on
January 2, 2009 - 2:20pm
Last updated: January 2, 2009 - 2:21pm
Source: Social
Science Research Council
SIX STEPS TOWARD A
STRONGER, MORE TRANSPARENT, MORE ACCOUNTABLE FCC IN THE OBAMA ERA
The Social Science Research Council offers six steps toward a
stronger, more accountable, more transparent Federal Communications
Commission.
Data Disclosure: The FCC should mandate:
Full public disclosure of the datasets produced through
FCC-sponsored studies. Arguably, this is already required under the Data
Quality Act. Full disclosure of third-party data used in research submitted
in formal FCC policy proceedings. Because of the heavy reliance of all
parties on commercially-collected data, the second recommendation is the most
sweeping reform on our list. The restrictive terms of most commercial
licenses greatly distorts the policymaking process by forbidding disclosure
or sharing of data used in research—even, in many cases, with the FCC. Reform
in this area would require innovation in licensing—possibly in the form of an
FCC-mandated 'public policy license' for datasets used in work formally
submitted to the FCC. Such a license would require disclosure and encourage
independent evaluation, but protect providers from unauthorized secondary
commercial appropriation.
Content Archiving: Much of media policy is an effort to shape
the content of the media, yet the current regulatory environment makes access
to audio-visual content difficult, haphazard, and expensive. The FCC should:
Require broadcast licensees to provide thorough, accessible and reliable
records of station programming and performance. Work with the Library of
Congress, the Copyright Office and other actors to create a modern regulatory
framework for audio-visual content archiving. Among the numerous benefits of
a more complete audio-visual archive of American life: better research on the
media policy questions that involve content, from media diversity to news to
children's programming.
Finally, the FCC should create an Advisory Committee on Data
Quality, Integrity, and Access to advise the Commission on these and other
data issues over time.
Links to Sources
Six Steps Toward a Stronger, More
Transparent, More Accountable FCC in the Obama Era
»