WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 20, 2017 – Lonna Thompson, executive vice president, chief operating officer and general counsel of America's Public Television Stations (APTS), issued the following statement today on the actions taken today by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):
“America’s Public Television Stations are pleased by the actions taken today by the Federal Communications Commission adopting final orders in the Noncommercial Educational (NCE) Station Third-Party Fundraising and NCE "Ownership" Reporting proceedings.
"We commend the Commission's action today to exempt NCE broadcasting stations from the new third-party fundraising rules and to retain waiver standards for NCE stations when needed for their communities in situations such as natural disasters.
"We also applaud the Commission's action today eliminating the requirement that NCE stations include sensitive information on board members, such as portions of their social security numbers, in the "ownership" reporting forms. We are pleased the Commission recognized that individuals who serve on noncommercial educational station boards are unpaid volunteers and should not be subject to unnecessary reporting requirements while providing a valuable public service.
"We are grateful that the FCC has resolved these two long-standing proceedings and has adopted final orders in a manner that recognizes the distinction of NCE television and radio stations from other broadcasters in terms of structure, governance and finances."
About APTS
America's Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
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