[BC] Public File proceeding

[JYRussell@academicplanet.com]

Well, one thing I had in mind earlier today about the PF was the fact that 
the public should be allowed to know that things they send in actually go 
INTO that file.  and not into the trash alongside the GM's desk.

   Not every listener knows that they *could* send their comments, in 
writing, to the FCC at box ....  , washington DC, blah blah.

   And many that do know where to send them also might just have the feeling 
that sending a letter to the FCC might just be akin to "yelling into a 
sponge"... their letter might never even be read.  It could just go to some 
big huge amorphous federal mass - and disappear.

   Folks mad enough to get out a pen and write things down are quite likely 
to send them directly to the station.  Where the GM is quite likely to weed 
out the negative comments, and throw them away.  So, you've never seen that. 
Huh.

   Only the positive, or a few selected semi-negative letters from the 
public ever made it into the PF during one GM's tenure that I personally 
know of.  And the selection process was always pretty obvious...

  Some stations deserve to have ALL the public's comments put into the file, 
and publicly available. Positive, AND negative comments.  Without the public 
having to jump through hoops, prove up, use the FOI act, or etc. to see if 
they've been heard fairly.

 Jason