IATF Questioned on Anti-collusion Rules by Noncommercial Groups
Public TV interests want to know if FCC anti-collusion rules prohibit public TV stations from engaging in public fundraising after the short form application deadline for the incentive auction, said a joint ex parte filing from the CPB, PBS and…
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the Association of Public Television Stations. Representatives of the public TV groups and NAB met with the Incentive Auction Task Force and “raised multiple questions” about the communications prohibitions from the incentive auction's anti-collusion rules and how they could affect public TV stations' “routine business and financial operations,” the filing said. FCC officials have told us the rules bar stations from discussing their bids in the auction and other bidding strategy-related information from the deadline for applications to participate in the incentive auction until the auction is complete. Along with questions about fundraising, the public TV representatives asked whether the anti-collusion rules keep stations from stating publicly that they will continue operating after the auction, such as when requesting donations. They also asked if stations are prohibited from releasing Freedom of Information Act-requested information about their post-auction plans, or posting multiyear strategic plans on their websites. The public TV groups also asked if the rules bar them from signing multiyear contracts during the signing period, if their boards' open meetings are allowed under the rules, and other questions on how deep the anti-collusion rules go.