2006-04-13 17:18 廣電換照 公民不必靠邊站？
Ncc的換照原則，以及東森S台的附負擔換照處分出爐了，令人生氣與失望。在此同時，換照的petition to deny和公聽制度，以及委員會的意見書，及異議/不同意見書，若能制度化建立與即時公開，會比較令人期待。
那天看到NCC對外發言表示，違規重罰，甚至撤照，平時就可以做了，不必等到換照，因此平常未被撤照，到期就自動換照…。
看了真的很生氣，而且很失望。這好像說，平常我們應嚴格批評並懲罰某政黨或/政客，如果做不好或表現惡劣，平常就可以罷免了；所以若平常未被罷免，任期期滿改選時原則上自動當選…。
換照制度有其價值，不應自廢武功。換照制度落實，不僅可以監督NCC有沒有失職，也讓民間有 「請求不予換照」(petition to deny) (見下文) 的機會。
換言之，換照和撤照是一體的，防止連任比任期未滿而罷免其實更可能做到。再者，前者(換照)對業者來說反而較可預測，和平日違規表現連結，並且在期滿前讓外界有異議/要求 不予換照 的請願機會，後者(撤照)既屬不可預測，而且也顯得空洞甚至危險(NCC權力可能過大)。 現在NCC發言人說要平常就可以做難度比較高的撤照，反而自動放棄比較容易、相對也較客觀、民主的換照機制，實在是令人難以置信。
******************************
還有，NCC說，若平常已處罰過，在換照時不予換照會形成一罪兩罰。
難道說，NCC所謂平時可能採取的撤照，是隨性為之，不和平常違規違法的表現有關？如果有關，難道就不會一罪兩罰？
我最擔心的其實是NCC的心態，無作為的忙碌，有作為的閒適，NCC好像是選了前者，捨結構管制而就行為管制。
*******************************
NCC已決定要讓換照輕審或換照形式化/自動化，是否意味著公民只能靠邊站？
至少，面對親商與低度管制傾向都比NCC有過之無不及的FCC，美國的媒體改革與公民監督團可不這麼想。
美國的公民支持獨立公共廣電的媒改團體CIPB 在2000年時出版了一份HOW TO MAKE PUBLIC BROADCASTING ACCOUNTABLE TO YOUR COMMUNITY 的媒改運動手冊，共計46頁。
其中有提到利害攸關者與社區公民 /團體有權在特定廣播電視業者經營執照到期時，有權向FCC提出「請求不予換照」(petition to deny)的抵制行動。雖然此請求不一定會被FCC接受，而且歷史上這類「請求不予換照」的努力成功的案例很少，但若公民團體能夠據實訴求，不屈不撓奉陪到底，兩造攻防短則數月，長達數年，還是會讓平日素行不良的若干廣電業者感到芒刺在背，顏面無光，從而增加公民監督媒體的籌碼，或許平日為惡不端的部分「問題媒體」就此不敢我行我素，於是廣電業者的表現也就有了改善的契機？
不然怎麼辦呢？如果管制監理機關已經傾向低度管制/解除管制(de-regulation)的方式行事，想要把廣播電視換照作業自動化，觀眾/公眾能怎麼辦呢？
Stations are most accountable every five years when they must submit their license for renewal. At such time, you may file a “petition to deny” in which you raise your public interest objections. At this time, the station’s failure to provide programming that serves the needs and interests of the community becomes relevant. So also do discriminatory employment practices and a pattern of abuse of regulations concerning openness and accountability. You may raise an informal objection or file a petition to deny the station’s
license renewal application.
The FCC will either deny your petition and grant the application, deny your petition and set the application for hearing on issues other than those you have raised, or grant your petition and set the application for hearing on some or all of the issues you have raised. If the application is granted, you may petition for reconsideration. At this level the standard of evidence is rigorous. You will need an attorney. Allegations must be supported by
affidavit of a person or persons with personal knowledge of the facts. You should make certain that you are in a position to participate. Finally, despite your best efforts, it’s a fact that the FCC very rarely denies a license renewal or transfer application.
While getting the station’s license denied is unusual, following this procedure still stands a good chance of effecting a change in the station’s policies or practices. The fact that the challenge could take months or even years, cause the station negative public relations and costly legal and administrative fees is an inducement for the station to recognize your
complaint and to negotiate. This might result in a citizen’s agreement between the station and your group or a direction by the FCC to the station to take remedial actions. The FCC must approve any such citizen’s agreements to ensure that no personal monetary benefit is gained.
To be sure, this is a whole lot of trouble. Nevertheless, with good counsel and solid backing it is possible. More importantly, you can use the threat of objection or petition to deny renewal or transfer to gain leverage with the station otherwise unavailable. More immediately, these actions will be newsworthy and should promote your group and put the station on the defensive. Since they are dependent on good public relations to maintain their subscriber contributions, rational station managers may consider obeying the law or better serving the public to be preferable to a public confrontation over their uncompromising control of governance and programming.
那天看到NCC對外發言表示，違規重罰，甚至撤照，平時就可以做了，不必等到換照，因此平常未被撤照，到期就自動換照…。
看了真的很生氣，而且很失望。這好像說，平常我們應嚴格批評並懲罰某政黨或/政客，如果做不好或表現惡劣，平常就可以罷免了；所以若平常未被罷免，任期期滿改選時原則上自動當選…。
換照制度有其價值，不應自廢武功。換照制度落實，不僅可以監督NCC有沒有失職，也讓民間有 「請求不予換照」(petition to deny) (見下文) 的機會。
換言之，換照和撤照是一體的，防止連任比任期未滿而罷免其實更可能做到。再者，前者(換照)對業者來說反而較可預測，和平日違規表現連結，並且在期滿前讓外界有異議/要求 不予換照 的請願機會，後者(撤照)既屬不可預測，而且也顯得空洞甚至危險(NCC權力可能過大)。 現在NCC發言人說要平常就可以做難度比較高的撤照，反而自動放棄比較容易、相對也較客觀、民主的換照機制，實在是令人難以置信。
******************************
還有，NCC說，若平常已處罰過，在換照時不予換照會形成一罪兩罰。
難道說，NCC所謂平時可能採取的撤照，是隨性為之，不和平常違規違法的表現有關？如果有關，難道就不會一罪兩罰？
我最擔心的其實是NCC的心態，無作為的忙碌，有作為的閒適，NCC好像是選了前者，捨結構管制而就行為管制。
*******************************
NCC已決定要讓換照輕審或換照形式化/自動化，是否意味著公民只能靠邊站？
至少，面對親商與低度管制傾向都比NCC有過之無不及的FCC，美國的媒體改革與公民監督團可不這麼想。
美國的公民支持獨立公共廣電的媒改團體CIPB 在2000年時出版了一份HOW TO MAKE PUBLIC BROADCASTING ACCOUNTABLE TO YOUR COMMUNITY 的媒改運動手冊，共計46頁。
其中有提到利害攸關者與社區公民 /團體有權在特定廣播電視業者經營執照到期時，有權向FCC提出「請求不予換照」(petition to deny)的抵制行動。雖然此請求不一定會被FCC接受，而且歷史上這類「請求不予換照」的努力成功的案例很少，但若公民團體能夠據實訴求，不屈不撓奉陪到底，兩造攻防短則數月，長達數年，還是會讓平日素行不良的若干廣電業者感到芒刺在背，顏面無光，從而增加公民監督媒體的籌碼，或許平日為惡不端的部分「問題媒體」就此不敢我行我素，於是廣電業者的表現也就有了改善的契機？
不然怎麼辦呢？如果管制監理機關已經傾向低度管制/解除管制(de-regulation)的方式行事，想要把廣播電視換照作業自動化，觀眾/公眾能怎麼辦呢？
Stations are most accountable every five years when they must submit their license for renewal. At such time, you may file a “petition to deny” in which you raise your public interest objections. At this time, the station’s failure to provide programming that serves the needs and interests of the community becomes relevant. So also do discriminatory employment practices and a pattern of abuse of regulations concerning openness and accountability. You may raise an informal objection or file a petition to deny the station’s
license renewal application.
The FCC will either deny your petition and grant the application, deny your petition and set the application for hearing on issues other than those you have raised, or grant your petition and set the application for hearing on some or all of the issues you have raised. If the application is granted, you may petition for reconsideration. At this level the standard of evidence is rigorous. You will need an attorney. Allegations must be supported by
affidavit of a person or persons with personal knowledge of the facts. You should make certain that you are in a position to participate. Finally, despite your best efforts, it’s a fact that the FCC very rarely denies a license renewal or transfer application.
While getting the station’s license denied is unusual, following this procedure still stands a good chance of effecting a change in the station’s policies or practices. The fact that the challenge could take months or even years, cause the station negative public relations and costly legal and administrative fees is an inducement for the station to recognize your
complaint and to negotiate. This might result in a citizen’s agreement between the station and your group or a direction by the FCC to the station to take remedial actions. The FCC must approve any such citizen’s agreements to ensure that no personal monetary benefit is gained.
To be sure, this is a whole lot of trouble. Nevertheless, with good counsel and solid backing it is possible. More importantly, you can use the threat of objection or petition to deny renewal or transfer to gain leverage with the station otherwise unavailable. More immediately, these actions will be newsworthy and should promote your group and put the station on the defensive. Since they are dependent on good public relations to maintain their subscriber contributions, rational station managers may consider obeying the law or better serving the public to be preferable to a public confrontation over their uncompromising control of governance and programming.
回應
