The Virginia Association of Broadcasters has joined with members operating in the Charlottesville market to express opposition to the FCC’s localism mandates in the form of enhanced disclosure and other measures. “Even before broadcasters faced serious competition from cable, satellite and the Internet, the FCC determined that localism mandates were an unnecessary regulatory burden,” says VAB. “The current market pressures — both from within the broadcasting industry and from other media — assure that broadcasters simply cannot survive in today’s competitive environment without providing high-quality local programming to their viewers. Local broadcasters are among the cornerstones of the communities they serve. In order for these stations to survive and continue to offer localized public service, stations cannot be held to outdated standards that amount to government "make work."
