Sen. Udall: Broadcasting Still Matters, Big Time

In times of emergency and economic hardship, broadcasting holds strong

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/1/2011 2:58:59 PM

The continuing value of free, over-the-air broadcasting, the first wireless technology, can get lost amid the broadband bells and whistles and the clamor for more spectrum.

That was the gist of the message to broadcasters from Senate Commerce Committee member Tom Udall (D-N.M.) Monday at the National Association of Broadcasters State Leadership Conference in Washington. The conference is an opportunity for broadcasters from around the country to strategize and then fan out to Capitol Hill and the FCC to make the case for things like broadcast spectrum and a light touch on retrans reform.

Udall, who is the cousin of NAB President Gordon Smith (himself a former Republican Senator and member of the Commerce Committee), also made a plea for an interoperable broadband communications network and for the continued funding of public broadcasting, which is targeted by Republican House leaders for big cuts.

Udall drew repeated applause as he talked of the value of free TV and radio to those who cannot afford it, and to those who need emergency information. The latter dovetailed with his call for an emergency communications network, which he said would be a priority of his on the Commerce Committee, as would be getting broadband to rural areas. He praised broadcasters for giving up spectrum already for emergency communications as part of the DTV transition.

But while he said broadband was a focus, he did not underestimate the value of broadcasting, commercial and noncommercial. He said while many are getting used to paying "top dollar" for TV, "many cannot afford cable or satellite TV," and "not everyone has access to the Internet at home."

Udall said that while smart phones and iPads are getting a lot of attention, broadcasting was being taken for granted. He said that was perhaps because "broadcasting has always been there for us." He said being there really mattered in times of emergency, citing a recent cold snap in his home state and the need for information on weather and safety, as well as the availability of gas for heating homes or cooking meals.

"I am excited about the potential use of Internet technologies for emergency preparedness and response," he said. "Yet when it comes to alerting the public, the reality is that not everyone has a computer, but most do have radios and TVs." In fact, one of the reasons the FCC is exploring a universal set-top device is to use the ubiquity of TVs to drive broadband adoption. It estimates that between 75% and 80% of households have computers, while 99% have TVs.

Udall said that the fact that most households have TVs makes broadcasting important to business and jobs. Those are the two of the key talking points when regulators talk about the need for reclaiming broadcast and other spectrum for wireless broadband. "We should remember that in this time of delicate economic recovery. Advertisers and especially local businesses value their local broadcast stations as an efficient way to meet their community and customers." He also pointed out that TV still is a powerful campaign tool as well. "I think Gordon and I both know, as elected public servants, something about the importance of advertising on broadcast radio and TV."

He said that other values of broadcast TV were those sharper HD pictures and the continued community service. "Maybe that is what makes it easier for me to recognize the value of free, over-the-air broadcasting today and to expect broadcasters to continue to play an important role in our lives and future, but we should not take that for granted."