One of the ways we can contribute to the discussion of public policy comes with the chance to comment to federal regulatory agencies.
Unfortunately, most of us do not. And part of the problem is that unless you pay close attention to the alphabet soup of agency acronyms and their business, it’s hard to know they want your opinion. Most of us don’t spend a lot of time reading the Federal Register.
And so, the agencies get inundated with comments from lawyers, lobbyists, advocacy groups and advocacy group chain letters and academics — not necessarily the voice of the people.
I discovered that the Federal Communications Commission wants input from the public for its “Future of the Media Project.” I found out because I got an e-mail from a journalism organization that wants its members to respond.
Here’s how the FCC casts its pitch: “As the nation’s expert agency involved in media and communications policies, the FCC has begun an examination of the future of media and the information needs of communities in a digital age. The objective of this review is to assess whether all Americans have access to vibrant, diverse sources of news and information that will enable them to enrich their lives, their communities and our democracy.”
The intent sounds reasonable and the shopping list of questions the FCC would like comment on is ambitious. It includes no-brainers such as:
- “How have the changes in the media landscape affected the delivery of critical information in times of natural disasters, extreme weather, or public health emergencies?”
- “Compared to earlier decades, are Americans more or less likely to seek and find more specialized media (i.e., that focused on a specific topic, appealing to a specific demographic group, or promoting a similar ideology or world view)?”
- “In general, what categories of journalism are most in jeopardy in the digital era?”
- “How are foundations helping in the provision of local news and information?”
- “What role will and should user-generated journalism play?”
- “What kinds of digital and media literacy programs are appropriate to help people both use new information and communication technologies effectively and to analyze and evaluate the news and information they are receiving?”
The Future of Media Web site contains a host of information about the project and public comment. I think it’s worth a look. The original deadline of March 8 has been extended to May 7 to allow more time for public comments.
If nothing else, the filing rules serve as a testament to the bureaucracy of public comment.
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