NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 1 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x In the matter of: : : MEDIA BUREAU PUBLIC FORUM ON WWOR-TV : LICENSE RENEWAL IN NEW JERSEY : : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x Wednesday, November 28, 2007 Paul Robeson Campus Center The University Club 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd Newark, NJ 07102 The above-entitled matter came on for public forum, pursuant to notice, at 4:00 p.m. BEFORE: LOUIS SIGALOS Moderator MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION: MICHAEL E. COPPS JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN MONICA S. DESAI BARBARA KREISMAN NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 2 Speaker(s): Page Commissioner Michael Copps................. 5 Senator Frank Lautenberg................... 6 Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein........... 19 Moderator Sigalos......................... 26 Introduction & Welcome Ms. Monica Desai.......................... 27 Media Bureau, FCC Moderator Sigalos......................... 28 Introduction of Speakers Mr. Lew Leone............................. 30 VP & General Manager, WWOR Ms. Donna Sandorse........................ 34 Voice for New Jersey Ms. Dural Desai........................... 41 Media Access Project Ms. Ingrid Reed........................... 48 Eagleton Institute New Jersey Project Ms. Wendy White........................... 53 The Three Doctors Foundation Moderator Sigalos......................... 57 Invitation for Public Comments Mr. Lovey................................. 58 Voice for New Jersey Suzy Kass................................. 60 Blue Wave of New Jersey Bill Hassall.............................. 62 Patrick Adams............................. 64 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 3 Tim Karr.................................. 66 Free Press Christa Pugh.............................. 68 Ad Council Harold Winard............................. 70 Reverend Jacques DeGraff.................. 72 Newark Community Health Centers Kate Blofson.............................. 74 Debbie Spigner............................ 76 Dale Alexander............................ 78 United Negro College Fund Bill Lavin................................ 80 New Jersey Fireman's Mutual Benevolent Assn. Louis Zanoni.............................. 82 Low Power TV Stations Curtis Farrow............................. 84 Irving Street Representative Sharon Brown.............................. 87 African American Festival Senator Lautenberg........................ 89 Diane Doctor.............................. 90 Galloping Hill Media Faris Jebara.............................. 92 Rutgers University Ann Rea................................... 93 Barbara Belasco........................... 95 League of Women Voters of New Jersey NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 4 Steve Edwards............................. 97 New Jersey Hall of Fame Tracey Reed............................... 99 Voice for New Jersey Mario Tapia.............................. 102 LGC Duda Penteado............................ 103 Artist Certification Board of City of Jersey Tom Dallessio............................ 105 Daniel Schoenberg........................ 107 Dock Russell, KCAP....................... 108 Marianne Hartman......................... 110 Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey Juan Nortez.............................. 112 Joseph Occhipinti........................ 114 National Police Defense Foundation Luis Diaz................................ 117 U.S. Hispanic Association Joseph Crooms............................ 119 Guardian Angels Wilbur McNeil............................ 121 Save It Like It is Larry Petrillo........................... 122 New Jersey Division of Fire Safety William Terry............................ 123 One Organization Frank Scandale, The Record............... 126 Closing.................................. 128 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 5 P-R-O-C-E-E-D-I-N-G-S1 (4:00 p.m.)2 COMMISSIONER COPPS: Well, I don't 3 have a gavel, but let me call this meeting to 4 order. 5 Good afternoon, I'm Commissioner 6 Mike Copps from the Federal Communications 7 Commission. The chairman of the Commission, 8 Kevin Martin, is unable to be here today, so 9 as a member of the Commission, I am pleased to 10 call this public forum regarding Fox 11 Television Station, Incorporated, application 12 for renewal of license WWOR-TV, to order. 13 Let me first of all thank Rutgers-14 Newark for hosting us today and everybody in 15 this audience, the panelists and audience, and 16 participants all for coming. I'm delighted 17 this public forum is being held. 18 And I am particularly happy that 19 our friend Senator Frank Lautenberg is here to 20 participate with us. For those of you who may 21 not know, Senator Lautenberg is a senior 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 6 member of the Senate Commerce Committee which 1 overseas the Federal Communications 2 Commission. And I can tell you from first-3 hand experience that he has been a tireless 4 advocate for the good citizens of New Jersey. 5 He's also known for his knowledge 6 and leadership across the whole gamut of 7 communications issues from telecommunications 8 right on through media. So we very much 9 appreciate Senator Lautenberg's willingness to 10 be here and his ongoing involvement in this 11 matter of your local television station and 12 whether it is duly serving New Jersey and 13 meeting its public interest obligations. And 14 at this time, I would like to ask Senator 15 Lautenberg whether he would care to make some 16 remarks before we proceed.17 SENATOR LAUTENBERG: Thanks very 18 much. I, too, extend my greetings. And I 19 first want to say that I give my thanks to the 20 commissioners from the FCC who are here and 21 for Chairman Martin's willingness to hold this 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 7 hearing. 1 I consider it a triumph in2 openness and I thank both Commissioner Copps 3 and Commissioner Adelstein for, for being 4 here. And I want to say that we're looking at 5 Channel 9, WWOR, to see that the mission that 6 it has in order to have obtained a license is 7 fully fulfilled. 8 Before getting into the content of 9 my comments, I want to say thank you to the 10 people, staff, students from Rutgers 11 University. This facility is a significant 12 part of the community here in Newark, a 13 community that's working very hard to 14 establish itself as the premier city in the, 15 the state of New Jersey, the largest city and 16 perhaps it's fair to say also one of the most 17 active in terms of a source for educational 18 facilities and for communications with the 19 general community here. 20 This is one of FCC's first or 21 early public hearings on a license renewal in 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 8 recent history. The renewals are typically 1 rubber stamped, but the situation with this 2 license warrants unprecedented attention and 3 that's why I asked FCC Chairman Kevin Martin 4 to hold this hearing in our state to hear from 5 the people of New Jersey before deciding 6 WWOR's future. 7 I want to thank today's speakers 8 in addition to the folks here from FCC, 9 including Voice for New Jersey, the United 10 Church of Christ, and the Rainbow PUSH 11 Coalition, and all of the people from the 12 State of New Jersey, even if you're from 13 across the river, from our suburbs, we welcome 14 you. And I thank, again, Rutgers for making 15 sure that New Jersey is heard in this room on 16 our airways.17 So I want to be clear about why 18 this hearing is so important. When you pick 19 up your remote and turn to Channel 9, it's our 20 view, and it's confirmed, you are not getting 21 sufficient information about New Jersey's 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 9 neighborhoods, New Jersey's problems, New 1 Jersey's schools, New Jersey's roads, all of 2 those things that make up this very dynamic 3 state of ours. 4 Routinely, the news is about the 5 earth and maybe we're included in the 6 environments at some point in time, but we're 7 as interested in what happens in Morristown, 8 Montclair, and Manalapan as we are in 9 Manhattan, and that's what we are trying to do 10 this, this day. 11 New Jersey news is largely 12 forgotten or buried deep in other newscasts. 13 And, you know, if we have something 14 unfortunate happen here as we have had, as 15 every state has had, that will get some 16 attention. But very often the routine things 17 that are important for students, for, for 18 young people to learn more about this 19 wonderful state of ours, it's not often heard. 20 It's not sufficiently heard. 21 Channel 9 is licensed as a New 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 10 Jersey station. Channel 9 has an obligation 1 to cover the news that affects our 2 communities, our businesses and our families. 3 In fact, the WWOR license was specifically 4 moved from New York City to New Jersey for 5 that very reason. The FCC's 1983 decision 6 moving the station to New Jersey is very 7 specific, and I quote it here, "This station 8 will not be a New Jersey station in name only. 9 It will serve the people of New Jersey." And 10 we're not fully served unless information 11 about what is taking place in our state is 12 heard on a routine basis, just as it is in 13 other states across the country where there is 14 a sufficient media market to attract 15 television presence. That's everywhere. 16 Regrettably, this station has 17 failed to meet that obligation. Leading up to 18 the 2005 election, for example, New Jersey had 19 several important electoral races. Our 20 residents deserve local coverage of those 21 races to help them make an informed decision 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 11 at the polls. But, remarkably, New York TV 1 stations provided more coverage of New Jersey 2 races than did Channel 9, according to a 3 Rutgers study. 4 And when you look at Channel 9's 5 website, it markets itself as a New York 6 station. Its website is My9NewYork and its 7 web address is My9NY.com. Now there may have 8 been a change in the website. What a 9 coincidence as we were preparing for this 10 hearing. 11 Several years ago, WWOR closed its 12 Trenton news bureau. Now what kind of 13 coverage can we have for New Jersey families 14 without a news team in our state capital. 15 Three years ago, Channel 9 attempted to move 16 its news team out of our state completely, 17 take it across the river to New York. Well, 18 as far as I was concerned, it was unacceptable 19 and inexcusable. How can WWOR do the job 20 covering our state if it doesn't even have a 21 presence in this state? 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 12 So I met with then Lachlan 1 Murdoch, the younger member of the Murdoch 2 family and the owner, principal ownership of 3 the Fox Television station. This is the son 4 of Rupert Murdoch, who owns the News 5 Corporation. And he agreed, Lachlan agreed 6 with us to keep the news operation in New 7 Jersey, where it remains today. But I have to 8 tell you it was a struggle and there were 9 serious words across the table in terms of 10 what it would take to keep that license in the 11 hands of the News Corporation. 12 Well, that was a victory; 13 unfortunately, a single victory. But there is 14 no substitute, regardless of how we came out 15 then, for having the availability to have true 16 local coverage on a continuing basis. 17 New Jersey is the only state in 18 the country without its own media market; 19 imagine, the eleventh largest state in the 20 country. If we had our own market, it would 21 be the fourth largest market, media market in 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 13 the country. Instead, we're wedged between 1 New York City and Philadelphia. I think Ben 2 Franklin said something about that a lot of 3 years ago. We didn't like it then, either. 4 This makes it hard enough for our 5 residents to get news about our safety, our 6 schools, our communities, our general 7 activities. Now we expected Channel 9 to help 8 us overcome this struggle and that's why it 9 was licensed in New Jersey in the first place. 10 Instead, they force New Jersey's residents to 11 turn to out-of-state stations. And that's 12 simply unacceptable for the eleventh largest 13 state in the country. 14 If the FCC renews Channel 9's 15 license -- this is not intended, I assure you 16 -- I want you to know, we expect Channel 9 to 17 help us overcome -- once again, that's why it 18 was located in New Jersey in the first place. 19 Well, it was FCC -- if FCC renews Channel 9's 20 license, it needs to get tough, make certain 21 that New Jersey gets the news coverage it 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 14 needs and deserves. 1 The FCC must insist that Channel 9 2 meets specific measurable goals for New Jersey 3 coverage. WWOR has to identify itself as a 4 New Jersey station. It has to devote a 5 specific and substantial amount of air time 6 each week to New Jersey news stories and 7 events. It has to document its New Jersey 8 coverage in a separate FCC report. The report 9 should show date, time of day, duration, and 10 content in detail. And it must keep its news 11 departments and production studios in New 12 Jersey. 13 When the FCC moved Channel 9 from 14 New York to New Jersey, it said, "At renewal 15 time, it will be judged by how it has met the 16 obligation to serve the needs of northern New 17 Jersey." Well, it's now renewal time and the 18 facts are clear, Channel 9 has failed to meet 19 the test, failed to pass the test. 20 It's based in New Jersey. It's 21 time for the FCC to make sure that it, WWOR, 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 15 covers the state of New Jersey as it was 1 originally intended to do when the license was 2 first issued. Thank you very much.3 COMMISSIONER COPPS: Thank you 4 very much, Senator, for your remarks and thank 5 you also for your leadership and bringing us 6 here, today. I'm really impressed that we 7 have a standing room only crowd at four 8 o'clock in the afternoon of a busy week. 9 And, really, this is part -- I 10 know there are some very unique circumstances 11 with regard to the market that we're going to 12 be discussing today, but this kind of dialogue 13 over how stations are doing is really 14 occurring right now all over the United States 15 of America largely in result, I think, to the 16 extent of media consolidation that we have 17 seen and endured over recent years. 18 People are interested in 19 ascertaining how well broadcasters are serving 20 those local communities. And, as we all know, 21 broadcasters have a solemn obligation to do 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 16 that because the American people own the 1 airways. No business, no broadcaster, no 2 special interest owns an airway in the United 3 States of America. They're yours. And 4 broadcasters get the privilege to use those 5 airways and a license to do that by pledging 6 to serve the public interest, to bring you, 7 among other things, good local news, 8 information, and entertainment. 9 The Commission used to be very 10 active in enforcing this bargain between the 11 public and the broadcaster. Every three 12 years, broadcasters are required to come into 13 the Commission to renew their radio and 14 television licenses. And the Commission has a 15 little guideline, a list of guidelines, 16 fourteen in number, that it used to judge 17 whether a station was indeed meeting its 18 public interest obligations. 19 They weren't fourteen commandments 20 or anything like that, but they were 21 guidelines that we put next to a station's 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 17 application for relicense and we kind of made 1 a determination whether there was a good faith 2 effort to serve the public interest. And if 3 there was, the license was renewed. 4 But all of that changed over the 5 years and the change really picked up high 6 speed in the 1980's, when we had an FCC 7 chairman who remarked that a television set, 8 you know, was really nothing other than a 9 toaster with pictures, that's what it was 10 called and that's how they proceeded to, he 11 and his colleagues proceeded to treat it. 12 So the list of specific public 13 interest guidelines that we had was pared back 14 until almost nothing remains today over and 15 above a general obligation to serve the public 16 interest. But it's important to understand 17 that that general obligation to serve the 18 public interest is still there. It still 19 remains. It may be less well defined and 20 seemingly more difficult to implement, but it 21 is still there. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 18 And a forum like this, it is 1 unusual, but it's a wonderful opportunity to 2 task the FCC's current sensitivity to its 3 obligation, to its responsibility to see that 4 the public interest is served. 5 So what I like about a hearing 6 like this is the opportunity of the Commission 7 going out and listening to the people who can 8 best judge how a market is being served and 9 that's the viewers and listeners who live 10 here. 11 There are some unique obligations 12 that the licensee undertook in this particular 13 market and we are here today to learn whether 14 those obligations in your judgment are being 15 met. So we're interested in learning whether 16 you're satisfied with WWOR's news coverage of 17 New Jersey elections and New Jersey government 18 activities, does WWOR adequately report on 19 local news stories, is their public affairs 20 programming focused on New Jersey issues, has 21 WWOR identified itself with New Jersey or 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 19 sought to identify itself and cover a 1 surrounding area outside its community of 2 license. 3 So thank you everyone here, no 4 matter what your point of view, for coming out 5 this afternoon. And before we proceed 6 further, I want to ask my good friend and FCC 7 colleague, Jonathan Adelstein, if he has some 8 opening remarks that he would like to present.9 COMMISSIONER ADELSTEIN: Well, I 10 just want to echo what we've heard. I 11 certainly appreciate the leadership of Senator 12 Lautenberg in bringing this hearing here, 13 today. I can't remember, in my five years on 14 the Commission, ever having one of these. And 15 I think that they're probably due all over the 16 country. So thank you, Senator Lautenberg. 17 He, as you well know, has been a 18 real leader on these media issues. In 19 Congress, he's on the committee that oversees 20 us, so I guess I've got to be nice to him, the 21 Commerce Committee. But he is a leader on the 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 20 issues, making sure the media is accountable 1 to local needs of citizens of New Jersey and 2 the needs of citizens all across this country. 3 I certainly appreciate his bringing us 4 together, all the panelists are going to share 5 with us, and especially all of you. 6 It's critical that we hear from 7 you. And we do this, Mike Copps and I have 8 gone across the country to talk to people, we 9 really learn so much each place we go and each 10 situation is so unique. And to be able to 11 focus on this, tonight, is a real privilege. 12 And we're here tonight, of course, because as 13 Commissioner Copps said the public airways do 14 belong to you, the American people, and the 15 people of New Jersey have a right to be 16 served. You have a right to have your voices 17 heard, I think, in this process.18 The FCC has not kept up its part 19 of the bargain to ensure the public is 20 protected. We failed to issue rules on public 21 interest obligations to broadcasters since 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 21 1999. And our license renewal process really 1 lacks the teeth that are necessary to weed out 2 stations that aren't serving the public 3 interest. 4 Your presence here, today, really 5 represents how important these issues are. 6 You all came out at this time there's so much 7 going on in your lives but you felt this was 8 important and you know how important this 9 issue is. And there's a special history here.10 You've heard some about WWOR. As 11 Senator Lautenberg said, in 1983, Congress set 12 a special act. It was -- I used to work in 13 Congress for fifteen years and it's unusual 14 legislative language, colorful language from 15 your predecessor Senator Bill Bradley that 16 said that it was operating for the benefit of 17 the unserved State of New Jersey. And the 18 Commission said that WWOR would operate in New 19 Jersey for the benefit of the people of the 20 state. 21 The station would not -- the law 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 22 says the station would not be a New Jersey 1 station in name only; it would serve the 2 people of New Jersey, very unique language. 3 And our job is to enforce the law. 4 The Commission has stated in the 5 past that the lack of local VHF television 6 service in this highly populated area of 7 northern New Jersey presents a unique set of 8 circumstances wherein special obligations have 9 been imposed on all New York City and 10 Philadelphia TV stations. 11 Accordingly, you expect the 12 licensee of WWOR to perform a higher degree of 13 service, to its greater need coverage area 14 than is normally required of a broadcast 15 licensee. I'm not sure the Commission has 16 ever held the licensee to this higher 17 standard. It's very important to the people 18 of New Jersey this station and your needs 19 can't be ignored. 20 They have special obligations to 21 serve New Jersey; but, unlike other major 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 23 broadcast stations in New York City, this 1 primary communicative license is here in 2 northern New Jersey. And in a letter to 3 Senator Lautenberg, Chairman Powell reassured 4 the senator several years ago that the 5 Commission imposed a special service 6 requirement to, quote, "establish and maintain 7 a physical presence to New Jersey in order to 8 facilitate the coverage of issues of interest 9 to the residents of New Jersey." 10 And the chairman further affirmed 11 that the Commission would prioritize the 12 review of WWOR-TV. He said that WWOR-TV's 13 service to northern New Jersey, which the 14 Commission viewed as broader than the 15 community of Secaucus, would be reviewed 16 during the proceedings to review the license 17 of the station. 18 So here we are. It's actually 19 happening in an unusual circumstance where the 20 government actually does what it says it's 21 going to do. It's a rare and unique 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 24 opportunity for you to tell us how the station 1 is serving your needs in its public interest 2 obligations. 3 So you have a big responsibility 4 here tonight and you are the ones who will not 5 let your voices be swept under the rug. 6 You're speaking for so many of your fellow 7 citizens in New Jersey. And we take what you 8 say very seriously. And we need to look at 9 the broader context. As the senator said and 10 as Mike Copps said, we're now in the crucial 11 moment of our review of the broadcast media 12 ownership rules in this country. 13 And some in DC and not 14 surprisingly the companies that we oversee 15 want the FCC to adopt a package of -- the 16 ownership rules that is portrayed as moderate 17 but is really a wolf in sheep's clothing. But 18 we can't let the wool be pulled over our eyes. 19 The proposal would open all 20 markets to masses consolidation, allowing one 21 company to combine broadcast properties with 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 25 cable, the local monopoly newspaper, and even 1 the internet service provider. That proposal 2 could propel mergers across the United States. 3 And though we know that broadcasting is still 4 the dominant source of not just local news and 5 information but also entertainment 6 programming, it's still the broadcast industry 7 that disseminates the news and information 8 that really affects what you see here and 9 read. 10 So it's time for us to establish 11 clear and quantified public interest 12 obligations for all broadcasters. You deserve 13 not only on this station but on every station 14 that's licensed. Here we have a special 15 obligation. But in every station, you deserve 16 quality local music, quality local news and 17 public affairs. 18 Your great local musicians deserve 19 to be heard on local radio stations at hours 20 people can actually hear them. And minority 21 communities deserve to be portrayed on the 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 26 evening news in a manner that reflects the 1 many contributions, not underrepresented, not 2 misrepresented, not stereotyped. Women and 3 people of color should be owners, not just 4 consumers or leasees of broadcast media 5 services. 6 And you can certainly join me and 7 your leaders in Congress, like Senator 8 Lautenberg, in demanding that these policies 9 are implemented before and not after we change 10 the media ownership rules. So ultimately you, 11 the people of New Jersey that we're here to 12 listen to are going to have the last word 13 tonight and you should have the last word. 14 And I thank you so much for coming out, and we 15 look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for 16 being here tonight.17 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Good afternoon 18 and welcome to this public forum on WWOR-TV's 19 license renewal being conducted by the Media 20 Bureau of the Federal Communications 21 Commission.22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 27 I would like to echo the senator 1 and commissioner in thanking Rutgers 2 University for hosting this event today. My 3 name is Louis Sigalos. I am with the FCC's 4 Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau and I 5 will be your moderator. 6 With us also today from the Media 7 Bureau we have Monica Desai, who is the chief 8 of the Media Bureau, and Barbara Kreisman, 9 chief of the bureau's video division. We will 10 now hear opening remarks from Ms. Desai.11 MS. DESAI: Thank you, everyone. 12 On February 1st, Fox Television Stations filed 13 an application seeking renewal of its license 14 for station WWOR-TV, Secaucus, New Jersey. 15 Thereafter, petitions to deny that application 16 were filed by Voice For New Jersey and by the 17 Office of Communications of the United Church 18 of Christ and Rainbow PUSH Coalition. 19 Among other things, petitioners 20 allege that WWOR-TV has failed to provide and 21 program service adequately meeting the issues 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 28 and needs of its northern New Jersey viewers. 1 The licensee disputes that WWOR-TV's 2 programming efforts fall short of its public 3 interest obligations. 4 The Commission has not reached a 5 determination with respect to these claims. 6 Given WWOR-TV's unique program service 7 obligation stemming from Section 331 of the 8 Communications Act, the Commission has decided 9 to hold this local public forum in which the 10 public can participate and express views and 11 concerns on this matter. 12 Your input here, today, will be 13 included in the docket in the WWOR-TV renewal 14 proceeding and assist the Commission in 15 resolving the matters at issue. Thank you. 16 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you, Ms. 17 Desai. It is now time to hear from our 18 invited speakers. But before we begin, I 19 would like to briefly review the ground rules. 20 Each invited speaker has been 21 allotted a specific amount of time for their 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 29 comments. I will be strictly enforcing these 1 time limits to leave as much time as possible 2 for the public comment period. Please note we 3 have a timer clock right straight ahead, so 4 it's within your view. When that clock 5 actually goes down to zero, I am like a 6 machine and I politely thank you for your 7 invited comments at that point in time. 8 Because Fox's renewal application 9 for station WWOR-TV is the subject of this 10 proceeding, they will be given ten minutes for 11 their remarks. Each party present that12 opposed the application and our other two 13 invited participants will have five minutes 14 for their statements. 15 Members of the audience, please 16 listen respectfully to the speakers even if 17 you dispute the views that they express. I 18 know that the issue we're discussing today may 19 arouse a lot of passion. But for this forum 20 to run smoothly and be successful, we need to 21 maintain basic decorum and avoid unnecessary 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 30 interruptions. And for that I will thank you 1 in advance. 2 Participating as our invited 3 speakers today are Lew Leone, vice president 4 and general manager, WWOR; Donna Sandorse, 5 Voice for New Jersey; Darul Desai, assistant 6 director, Media Access Project; Ingrid Reed, 7 director, Eagleton Institute New Jersey 8 Project; Wendy White, executive director, The 9 Three Doctors Foundation. Mr. Leone?10 MR. LEONE: Thank you. Senator 11 Lautenberg, Commissioners Copps and Adelstein, 12 thank you for the opportunity to highlight the 13 great service My9 provides to the viewers of 14 northern New Jersey. 15 Joining me today are just a few of 16 the over 200 employees that work at our 17 station in Secaucus, including our news 18 director, anchors Brenda Blackman, Harry 19 Martin, Russ Salzberg, and Audrey Puente. 20 I'd like to also thank the many 21 local community leaders who have come to 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 31 support us. Please stand and be recognized 1 along with the My9 team. Our goal is to 2 provide northern New Jersey residents with 3 information to help them get through their day 4 and enrich their lives. But rather than tell 5 you what we do, let me show you who we are.6 (Whereupon, a video recording was 7 played.)8 MR. LEONE: My9 news is every 9 night at ten, with hourly updates weekdays 10 between four and seven. We provide 11 unparalleled coverage of northern New Jersey 12 news, as well as regional, national, and 13 international news of interest to New Jersey 14 residents. 15 My9 also provides extensive 16 political coverage from Governor Corzine's 17 budget plan, to the Keyport ban on smoking in 18 cars with children. We cover elections 19 statewide from federal to municipal races. We 20 have two weekly public affairs shows, Real 21 Talk and New Jersey Now, which include in-22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 32 depth coverage of political and social issues 1 of interest to New Jersey voters. 2 In 2007, we interviewed members of 3 the Assembly, state senators, mayors, and the 4 chief of police from Montclair State 5 University, as well as community leaders, 6 educational groups, and citizens of New 7 Jersey. 8 Here's a stat to think about, and 9 you saw it in the tape, My9 airs more than 10 10,000 public service announcements a year. 11 We've been recognized with five local Emmy 12 awards in 2007 alone, and multiple awards from 13 the New Jersey Press, Associated Press. 14 My9 employees participate in 15 community events, providing hands-on 16 volunteerism and fund raising to help 17 charities throughout New Jersey. My9 runs a 18 number of training programs, including a paid 19 apprentice program, the Emma Bowen Foundation 20 for Minority Interests in Media, Job 21 Development Program; an internship program 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 33 involving twenty-two New Jersey colleges, 1 including Rutgers; a mentoring program with 2 the 100 Black Men Organization. 3 While we always strive to do 4 better, I'm surprised to hear people challenge 5 our level of commitment to the viewers of New 6 Jersey. We are submitting to the FCC 7 additional documentation of the great service 8 My9 provides.9 Today, I'm happy to tell you that 10 we've heard your concerns and have already 11 begun making changes to our website to best 12 serve New Jersey. In closing, My9 goes above 13 and beyond both on the air and behind the 14 scenes. 15 The government doesn't require us 16 to attend community events or support good 17 causes. It doesn't require us to have job 18 training programs. But we are committed to 19 New Jersey. We have spent $11.8 million to 20 upgrade our Secaucus facility. 21 Why do we do all of this? Because 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 34 our employees live and work in New Jersey. 1 They vote and spent money in New Jersey. Many 2 were born and raised in New Jersey, and went 3 to college here. Now they are raising their 4 kids in New Jersey. And they take pride in 5 doing a great job of informing and 6 entertaining their families, friends, and 7 communities. 8 My9 is, at its heart, run by 9 people, people who are as much a part of the 10 New Jersey community as anyone sitting in this 11 room. I look forward to hearing your, your 12 views. And we will all be available after 13 this hearing to talk with you. Thank you. 14 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you, Mr. 15 Leone. Before I announce the next speaker, 16 there are a few empty seats if anybody wants 17 to try to filter in throughout the room. Now 18 would probably be your best opportunity. 19 There's a few seats I see over here, a few 20 scattered about there. Ms. Sandorse?21 MS. SANDORSE: I'd like to thank 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 35 the commissioners for calling this hearing and 1 coming today to hear how New Jersey residents 2 feel about the media coverage that they 3 receive from WWOR. My name is Donna Sandorse. 4 I'm a lifelong New Jersey 5 resident, a Rutgers graduate with a small 6 business, who has served on several New Jersey 7 nonprofit boards. I speak today on behalf of 8 Voice for New Jersey, a grassroots affiliation 9 of New Jersey residents founded by Leadership 10 New Jersey 2006, dedicated to improving 11 broadcast media coverage of our state. 12 I'd like to thank the Eagleton 13 Institute of Politics at Rutgers, Media Access 14 Project of the Free Press for supporting our 15 efforts, and particularly Senator Frank 16 Lautenberg and his staff. The senator has 17 been a long time champion of better media 18 coverage for our state. 19 I'd also like to acknowledge the 20 person who inspired us to take up this cause, 21 Bernard Spigner, former director of 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 36 Communications for the New Jersey Sports & 1 Exposition Authority, who passed on earlier 2 this year. 3 VNJ filed a petition to deny the 4 renewal of WWOR-TV's broadcast license 5 predicated on the station's failure to meet 6 its public interest obligations to the people 7 of New Jersey. The airways are valuable 8 public property, use of which is granted free 9 of charge to broadcasters with the sole 10 requirement that they meet public interest 11 obligations. 12 There are a number of factors that 13 the Commission has historically considered in 14 evaluating a broadcaster's performance. One 15 is localism. In the FCC's own words, a 16 broadcaster has a basic responsibility to 17 contribute to the overall discussion of issues 18 confronting a community, a duty for which each 19 licensee will be held individually 20 accountable. 21 To facilitate the kind of 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 37 discussion that the FCC envisions, a 1 broadcaster clearly must provide sufficient 2 news coverage to keep the public informed of 3 relevant events throughout the service area. 4 By this standard, WWOR has failed the people 5 of New Jersey. 6 First, the station provides 7 dramatically less total news coverage than any 8 of its peers in the New York metro area. 9 Second, the station has provided inadequate 10 coverage of New Jersey elections and 11 government, and virtually no local coverage of 12 some of the largest communities in the service 13 area. Third, in its branding and marketing, 14 the station has turned its back on the 15 community of license and taken on a strong New 16 York identity. 17 WWOR broadcasts only one hour of 18 news per day, not one hour of local news but 19 one total hour of news coverage, while their 20 peers to dramatically better. These other 21 stations broadcast three to seven hours of 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 38 regularly scheduled news programming per day, 1 on average, more than five times the coverage 2 of WWOR. WWOR has failed to allocate 3 sufficient time for such coverage to be 4 presented. 5 This leads quite naturally to our 6 second point, WWOR's appalling lack of news 7 coverage of some of New Jersey's largest 8 communities. Here, I'll point to information 9 in the station's own quarterly issues and 10 programming reports, which while not 11 comprehensive, these reports by FCC definition 12 present the licensee's most significant 13 programming treatment of community issues. 14 New Jersey's six largest 15 communities all fall within WWOR's service 16 area. Any station meeting the public service 17 obligations would of necessity provide 18 substantial news coverage in such large 19 population centers. 20 While the sixty-three New York 21 based news stories that they have identified 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 39 during the fifteen-month period from January 1 1st, 2006, to March 31st, 2007 are hardly 2 adequate, New Jersey's next five largest 3 municipalities do dramatically less well. 4 For example, they report only 5 thirteen New Jersey city stories, that's less 6 than one per month; eight Patterson news 7 stories, or one story every two months; and 8 only two Elizabeth news stories, one story 9 every seven months. Half of these stories 10 were crime and non-issue related. 11 It is our position that WWOR's 12 news coverage in these major cities is so 13 minimal as to constitute complete abdication 14 of the station's responsibility to, again in 15 the FCC's own words, contribute to the overall 16 discussion of issues confronting the 17 community. 18 Finally, we take exception to the 19 station's ongoing failure to identify itself 20 with its community of license. Our analysis 21 of their news coverage clearly shows their New 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 40 York bias. Of the less than 10 hours of news 1 coverage identified in their issues and 2 program reports in the first three quarters of 3 2006, a scant 2.7 hours was dedicated to New 4 Jersey, while 4.7 was dedicated to New York 5 stories, over 77 percent more broadcast time. 6 Identification with New York 7 permeates their marketing branding. The8 station's website, My9NY.com, shows the 9 Manhattan skyline and the words "New York" at 10 the top of the page. In the lobby of the 11 station's Secaucus headquarters, visitors are 12 greeted by a large My9NY poster, promoting the 13 station's news program with the words "Your 14 Neighborhood, Your News" over the Manhattan 15 skyline. 16 The Commission has long recognized 17 New Jersey's unusual position with respect to 18 media coverage. This densely populated state 19 would, if analyzed independently, be the 20 fourth largest media market in the nation. 21 Yet, because of its location between the 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 41 dominant New York and Philadelphia markets, 1 there is only one VHF commercial television 2 station licensed within its borders. 3 Over twenty years ago, the 4 Commission designated the license to serve the 5 public interest of New Jersey. As such, the 6 people of New Jersey are entitled to expect a 7 high level of service from its holder. 8 WWOR does not measure up and we 9 have amply demonstrated it has consistently 10 failed to fulfill even the bare minimum of its 11 public interest obligations. We urge the 12 Commission to act decisively to provide the 13 people of New Jersey with the broadcast media 14 coverage they deserve.15 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you, Ms. 16 Sandorse. Ms. Desai?17 MS. DESAI: Thank you. I am with 18 Media Access Project, I am also here to 19 represent United Church of Christ and Rainbow 20 PUSH Coalition. Growing up in New Jersey, in 21 Clifton, New Jersey, I, like many of my peers, 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 42 identified myself with New York. 1 This was naturally the result of 2 what I saw on TV. I knew plenty about Mayor 3 Koch and Mayor Dinkins, as well as the clean 4 up taking place on 42nd Street. On the other 5 hand, while I knew Thomas Kean was my 6 governor, I knew very little about my city's 7 mayor or my own state senators. 8 Coverage of New Jersey didn't get 9 any better during my years at Rutgers and New 10 York law school, at which time I was actually 11 able to vote. With my New Jersey driver's 12 license, I could not participate in New York 13 politics; yet, I could not rely on the local14 TV stations to inform me as to why I should 15 care about local elections taking place in New 16 Jersey. 17 How then could I, like many other 18 residents of New Jersey, feel compelled to 19 actively participate in or care about local 20 issues and elections? As I continue to spent 21 a considerable amount of time in my hometown, 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 43 where my parents have lived for almost forty 1 years now, it's obvious that little has 2 changed. 3 This type of coverage becomes 4 especially important because, as a 2006 study 5 shows, a majority of Americans watch and rely 6 on their local newscasts for news and 7 information. That is, that is why it is so 8 critical that Channel 9 live up to its 9 obligation to serve New Jersey; otherwise, how 10 can New Jersey residents be expected to 11 participate in local elections and make 12 informed decisions without adequate coverage 13 of candidates' positions on issues, or how can 14 New Jersey residents become aware of or 15 understand the impact of decisions being made 16 by local governments without coverage and 17 analysis of these decisions? 18 Unlike the other stations in this 19 market, Channel 9 has a specific and special 20 obligation to serve northern New Jersey. As 21 we have heard, this obligation did not come 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 44 about by accident. Since the 1980's, the 1 intent of the law has been to ensure that 2 Channel 9 is responsive and attentive to the 3 needs of New Jersey residents in a consistent 4 and thorough basis. 5 While ownership of Channel 9 has 6 changed over the years, this obligation to 7 serve New Jersey has not changed. While 8 Channel 9 is quite properly afforded some 9 discretion as to how and whether to address 10 certain issues, that discretion is not 11 absolute. The law is clear, Channel 9 is not 12 entitled to a renewal if it has abused this 13 discretion. As VNJ has demonstrated, the lack 14 of coverage of issues and politics of concern 15 to New Jersey residents is a gross abuse of 16 discretion which is not compatible with 17 Channel 9's most fundamental obligation to 18 serve New Jersey. 19 While Channel 9 has an obvious 20 economically driven preference for being 21 perceived as a New York based station, it is 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 45 now up to the Commission to ensure that 1 Channel 9 does not shortchange the residents 2 of New Jersey. Localism is one of the basic 3 elements the Commission looks at in 4 determining whether a license renewal is 5 warranted. 6 The Supreme Court has also 7 emphasized the right of the public to receive 8 suitable access to social, political, 9 economic, and other ideas. That means New 10 Jersey residents are entitled to adequate 11 coverage of issues and news relevant to them, 12 and they are just not getting it. 13 Unfortunately, in other renewal 14 challenges, the Commission has failed to serve 15 the public interest. The Commission has often 16 turned its back on localism and decided that 17 the First Amendment somehow precludes the 18 Commission from reviewing the broadcasted 19 editorial discretion. 20 However, the law requires the 21 Commission to also consider the absolute right 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 46 of the viewers to receive programming 1 responsive to the needs of their local 2 community. While the Commission has made it a 3 habit to blindly renew licenses, Channel 9 4 presents an easy and simple case where the 5 Commission simply cannot renew the license of 6 Channel 9 without further scrutiny. 7 Based on the evidence provided by 8 VNJ and the obvious branding of Channel 9 as a 9 station dedicated to New Yorkers, the 10 Commission cannot seriously conclude that 11 Channel 9 broadcasts in the interest of New 12 Jersey residents. Channel 9's license has 13 also been challenged because Fox Television's 14 ownership of Channel 9 is an outright 15 violation of the Commissions rule prohibiting 16 one entity from owning a TV station and a 17 newspaper in the same market. 18 In this case, that rule prohibits 19 Fox from owning Channel 9 and the New York 20 Post. In fact, Fox has been in violation of 21 the rule since 2001. Despite promising to 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 47 come into compliance with the rule, after six 1 years, Fox has instead tried to skirt the 2 rule. For this reason, United Church of 3 Christ and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition have 4 asked the Commission to deny the license 5 renewal. 6 The Commission has the obligation 7 to conclude that an automatic renewal would be 8 a disservice to the residents of New Jersey. 9 Instead, the Commission must further 10 scrutinize the service provided by Channel 9 11 and determine whether the license should be 12 renewed or whether additional conditions are 13 warranted. 14 To do otherwise would be a 15 disservice to New Jersey and to send a clear 16 message to the residents of New Jersey that 17 the Commission is just not serious about 18 making sure that Channel 9 keeps its promise 19 to serve New Jersey. Thank you, senator and 20 commissioners, and Media Bureau.21 MEDIATOR SIGALOS: Thank you, Ms. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 48 Desai. Ms. Reed?1 MS. REED: Let me express my 2 appreciation to the commissioners and to the 3 Commission staff for holding this public forum 4 today on an issue of great importance to the 5 State of New Jersey. And I want to thank 6 Senator Lautenberg for his continued long-term 7 and enthusiastic commitment to this problem. 8 While this hearing has a specific 9 focus on the renewal of the license of WWOR-10 TV, it fits into a much larger context for our 11 state, a context that has a long history. It 12 is one that has had a profound effect on our 13 governance and the participation of our 14 citizens in elections and in civil life more 15 broadly. 16 Specifically, it's New Jersey's 17 reliance on New York City and Philadelphia for 18 television coverage of its politics and 19 governance. It is now legendary. I grew up 20 in Vineland, in southern New Jersey, and 21 watched only Philadelphia stations. I now 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 49 live in Princeton and rely on New York City 1 stations. And so it goes. 2 WWOR-TV located since the mid 3 1980's in the northern most populous part of 4 our state was a welcomed and I might add hard 5 fought addition to this fragmented television 6 service, and there were high hopes of what it 7 would bring.8 But even now, our government and 9 every presentation about the problems facing 10 the state, its citizens, elected officials, 11 and civil leaders has the lack of a television 12 station with the primary focus on covering our 13 state cited as the main reason for our lack of 14 cohesion, identity, and knowledge about 15 ourselves. 16 This is especially troubling since 17 there is widespread grievant that people rely 18 mainly on television for their news. So what 19 do we know about what they get to see? 20 Eagleton decided to collect data to accurately 21 present the television coverage available to 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 50 us when we, in effect, rely on the kindness of 1 strangers for understanding ourselves and New 2 Jersey's public affairs. 3 We first studied the coverage of 4 television evening news in the month of 5 October for the 2005 gubernatorial campaign, 6 and we're continuing that study now and will 7 have information out on 2006 and '07 in the 8 spring. I thought it would be helpful in this 9 forum to highlight some relevant data we 10 collected about WWOR-TV, our New Jersey 11 station, in the context of eleven other 12 stations in the study, four in New York, four 13 in New Jersey, and two cable and public 14 television in New Jersey. 15 WWOR-TV showed thirteen election 16 stories in their evening news during the 17 thirty days before the election, ten of the 18 stories were about New Jersey or sixty-seven 19 percent. WWOR-TV had the second least stories 20 when compared to the four New York stations 21 that presented a total of seventy-nine stories 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 51 about New Jersey elections. One station had 1 only seven. The three others ranged between 2 eighteen and thirty-three. 3 WWOR-TV had the least percentage 4 of New Jersey stories when compared with 5 Philadelphia stations, and they did not pay a 6 lot of attention to New Jersey, much fewer 7 than New York stations. WWOR-TV did have 8 longer stories and had the longest sound bites 9 of candidates speaking; however, seventy 10 percent of these stories appeared in the final 11 week of the election. 12 This picture means that the 13 citizens of New Jersey had less change to 14 learn from WWOR-TV, fewer stories than other 15 stations, and concentrated over a shorter 16 period, probably with little predictability 17 when they would see something about the state. 18 But, once a story was produced and aired by 19 WWOR-TV, more time was devoted to it and to 20 hearing the candidates speak. 21 Clearly, there is potential to do 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 52 better and to build on that performance. Let 1 me say again how much we appreciate the 2 Commission's attention to New Jersey and to 3 our station, WWOR-TV. You will hear from many 4 informed individuals in groups, today. But 5 from my experience, I can say there are 6 thousands who would gladly tell you in 7 informal ways that they wished the television 8 news they see would help them understand 9 what's happening in their state and who the 10 public leaders are who have the responsibility 11 for solving those problems. 12 All stations that surround us 13 deserve rigorous examination of their 14 performance in serving our state, but 15 especially this station located in our state. 16 We look to you to inform us about what we 17 should expect from WWOR-TV. I think you would 18 find willing partners in New Jersey to use the 19 requirements for coverage of public affairs 20 and local news to assure that we have the 21 highest level of performance from WWOR-TV, our 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 53 TV station, who we hope we will look forward 1 to seeing at the State House. Thank you. 2 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you, Ms. Reed. 3 Ms. White?4 MS. WHITE: Thank you. I would 5 also like to thank the Commission and the 6 senator for this opportunity. I am a proud 7 Rutgers grad -- go Scarlet Knights -- and also 8 born and raised in north New Jersey. So this 9 is a wonderful opportunity, so thank you for 10 that. I, I do want to share with you just the 11 main focus of The Three Doctors Foundation and 12 that would focus on four core areas, health, 13 education, leadership, and mentoring. And our 14 relationship with My9 has extensively helped 15 us achieve those goals throughout the years, 16 so I do want to thank you for that. We 17 actually have great partnerships with 18 individuals on both sides of this discussion 19 today and I do want to say that I'm here today 20 to tell the truth about the great relationship 21 that we do have with our friends at My9. As I 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 54 mentioned, The Three Doctors Foundation 1 focuses on health, education, leadership, and 2 mentoring. And I can confidently say that the 3 support from My9 has definitely helped us 4 reach success in these areas, as I mentioned 5 before, certainly through event promotion, 6 because we completely rely upon word of mouth 7 and the media coverage to make sure that we 8 reach our target audience. And My9 has done 9 that year after year, to make sure that we are 10 able to reach the community and they are able 11 to come to our health events, and they are 12 able to meet the three doctors, and are able 13 to understand what we have to offer and why. 14 Also, My9 has more directly provided us with 15 their television personalities who, as you saw 16 from the film, have volunteered of themselves 17 time and time again to come up to the 18 community, to meet with our young people, to 19 meet with our donors, to help them understand 20 why it is important to support our 21 organization. I can say that Ms. Brenda 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 55 Blackman this year hosted our annual fund 1 raising gala, as well as Ms. Linda Lopez on a 2 separate occasion hosted our fund raising 3 gala, which was critically important to us 4 because that particular event is the only way 5 that we have to generate support for our 6 outreach programs. Our organization, if 7 you're not familiar with it, is based upon 8 three young physicians who are from north New 9 Jersey, they're from the community, and they 10 made a promise that they were going to beat 11 the odds and succeed, and they have. And My9 12 has been extensively supportive of making sure 13 that we've been able to share that message 14 with the New Jersey community. Without them, 15 I don't know that we would have been able to 16 do as much as we have in New Jersey. I do 17 want to personally thank Ms. Brenda Blackman 18 for all the help that she did this year. We 19 have supporters from all over the country. 20 And our biggest sponsor is actually in 21 Seattle, Washington, and they commented on how 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 56 wonderful the level of support we received 1 from the media, My9 especially, as well as our 2 other New Jersey constituents. So I do want 3 to thank you for that. We have also had My9 4 television personalities come out as mentors 5 for our mentoring program that we have every 6 year. The kids especially continue to be 7 impressed with seeing recognizable role 8 models, people who they see on television, on 9 a daily basis, who give back to the community. 10 For us, we cannot put a price on that because 11 the kids naturally respond to them and they 12 see them with the doctors, and that helps to 13 give us credibility as an organization and 14 make sure that we're able to do what we do 15 year after year. My9 has also featured the 16 doctors on a number of their television 17 stations. And that, in itself, has generated 18 a lot of support, a lot of unsolicited donors, 19 a lot of unsolicited other coverage from other 20 partners throughout the country, as well as 21 locally, and again we thank you for that. I 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 57 do want to also mention that, you know, the 1 doctors wanted to be here tonight, but they 2 are physicians and they couldn't today. But 3 they did want to also extend their personal 4 thanks for your support year after year to our 5 organization and making sure that we are 6 successful. Thank you for your time.7 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you, Ms. 8 White. And I would like to thank all of our 9 invited speakers for their participation this 10 afternoon. We will now transition to the open 11 public comment period for those people who 12 have registered to speak. And I want to 13 remind anybody who may not have registered 14 that the registration which is at that front 15 desk in the lobby will close in five minutes. 16 So if you want to speak, you have five more 17 minutes to register. Before I go over the 18 ground rules, will the following people go to 19 either one of these iron microphones. This is 20 the closest one. Chuck Lovey, Suzy Kass, 21 Bill Hassall, Patrick Adams, Tim Karr, Christa 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 58 Pugh, Harold Winard, Reverend Jacques DeGraff, 1 just either one of those two microphones. 2 Okay, the ground rules for this portion of our 3 hearing are really quite simple. Each public 4 commenter will be allotted two minutes for 5 their statements. Please keep an eye on the 6 clock as you do that, so we ensure that you 7 get your most important comments to us within 8 that time period. We will be strictly 9 enforcing this time limit so that everyone 10 will have an opportunity to be heard. Please, 11 audience, still do abide by our request for 12 basic decorum during this public comment 13 period. All right, Mr. Lovey?14 MR. LOVEY: Thank you. I'd like 15 to thank the FCC commissioners for calling 16 this hearing and coming to New Jersey today to 17 speak with us. My name is Chuck Lovey. I'm a 18 lifelong resident of New Jersey, I currently 19 reside in Plainfield, and I'm a member of 20 Voice for New Jersey. I'd like to share with 21 you some data that we developed from WWOR's 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 59 FCC filings. For those who are not aware, the 1 FCC requires broadcast licensees to submit 2 quarterly reports documenting programming that 3 addresses key issues in the broadcaster's 4 local community. For the first three quarters 5 of 2006, WWOR reported less than ten hours of 6 news programming that was responsive to 7 community issues, scarcely less than two 8 minutes per day of programming. Perhaps 9 coming to a sense of shame, the station 10 stopped reporting the airtime of its public 11 interest programming altogether in the fourth 12 quarter of 2006. Speaking for Voice for New 13 Jersey, we view this level of programming as 14 so minimal that it is tantamount to a complete 15 abdication of the station's public interest 16 obligations with respect to news coverage. 17 Now in its petition -- or in its response to 18 our petition, WWOR stated that the reports 19 that VNJ analyzed were never meant to be all 20 inclusive. The station would like us to 21 believe that its actual performance is better 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 60 than what we have portrayed. If this is so, 1 let WWOR show us the real numbers and let them 2 do it today. If they cannot, the Commission 3 must accept that WWOR's own reporting 4 abundantly proves the case against it as 5 documented in the Voice for New Jersey 6 petition. To do otherwise would be to accept 7 that the station's own reporting failures 8 should somehow be construed to its benefit, 9 and would be a gross violation of the public 10 trust. Let me again thank the commissioners 11 for coming to New Jersey today. Thank you 12 very much.13 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Ms. Kass?14 MS. KASS: Yes. My name is Suzy 15 Kass. I'm from Montclair, New Jersey. I co-16 chair the media reform group for Blue Wave New 17 Jersey. This issue is near and dear to our 18 hearts because we don't see this as a red 19 issue or a blue issue, this is simply about 20 getting the information we need to know as 21 citizens. We can't fix what we don't know is 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 61 broken. We can't care about people we don't 1 know about. We can't fix problems that we 2 don't know exist. You at WWOR will hear a lot 3 about what you're not doing. But what I want 4 to tell you is that the New Jersey residents, 5 what many of us want from you, we want to hear 6 something real, so talk to us. Talk to us 7 about how we're doing environmentally in New 8 Jersey. Tell us about our veterans coming 9 back from Iraq. Tell us about our candidates 10 running for office. Better yet, offer to give 11 them some air time so they can tell us about 12 themselves. Tell us about post 9/11 New 13 Jersey, how safe are we and what will you do 14 in the event of an emergency. Tell us about 15 our legislature. Perhaps you could do a 16 visual crawl underneath the news at night so 17 we know how everybody voted and what the 18 issues are. You do a little of this, but you 19 don't do enough. In a complicated world where 20 the stakes are so high, we cannot allow you to 21 squander our airwaves, and they are our 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 62 airwaves. We own these airwaves and stations 1 need to prove themselves worthy of their use. 2 I implore the FCC to be a better voice for 3 the individual. Start the great wave across 4 this country and hold WWOR accountable to its 5 public interest obligation and its mandate to 6 serve our area, because the caliber of our 7 actions and our decisions depend on your 8 responsible stewardship of our media. 9 Finally, on behalf of Blue Wave New Jersey and 10 myself, thank you so much for this 11 opportunity.12 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 13 Mr. Hassall?14 MR. HASSALL: Hi, the name is Bill 15 Hassall from Galloway, New Jersey. First of 16 all, I'd like to thank the FCC for giving this 17 subject the specialized attention that it 18 deserves. I would also like to thank Senator 19 Frank Lautenberg for the work -- for his work 20 to give New Jersey its own voice. I have 21 lived in New Jersey my whole life and I can 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 63 never remember hearing about any major news 1 coverage that didn't have either Philadelphia 2 or New York as its target audience. Being the 3 most educated and densely populated state in 4 the nation, one would think that more, not 5 less local community outlets would be here. 6 For a state that's trying to re-identify 7 itself with New Jersey, come see for yourself. 8 We sure aren't seeing for ourselves what New 9 Jersey has to offer the media market. I was 10 doing research on publicintegrity.org, a 11 website that tracks media ownership. And I 12 found that of the commercially licensed TV 13 stations that serve my hometown of Galloway, 14 only thirty-six percent are actually located 15 in New Jersey. It's no wonder that when 16 election time is near, I hear mostly about 17 out-of-state politics. We need to stop being 18 overshadowed by our neighboring states and 19 embrace our own local communities. And maybe 20 it's just me, but I don't understand how a 21 station that calls itself My9 New York could 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 64 even begin to claim that its aim is to serve 1 the people of this state. I'm surprised to 2 see they are even here covering this event, 3 today. WWOR really doesn't serve the public 4 interest. Therefore, I urge you to deny the 5 request for license renewal. Also, I am very 6 excited that this event is happening. 7 However, I would like to know why Senator 8 Lautenberg attached an amendment to the Local 9 Community Radio Act in 2007 that will prevent 10 low power FM from helping communities in New 11 Jersey. Senator Lautenberg should make sure 12 that communities have access to local media. 13 Thank you.14 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 15 Mr. Adams?16 MR. ADAMS: My name is Patrick 17 Adams. I'm from Union, New Jersey. I'd like 18 to thank the FCC and Senator Lautenberg for 19 having this hearing. First thing I notice, I 20 watch a lot of news, that on Channel 9, the 21 news is rarely on, especially in the morning 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 65 they don't really have news coverage, although 1 it's on in the evening. And when it is on, 2 it's news to me that, that it's based in New 3 Jersey. I thought it was just another New 4 York channel. They do kind of the same type 5 of stories that the Fox 5 and, you know, 6 Channel 11 do. So there's really not a big 7 difference between the type of news that they 8 report and the type of news that Fox 5 and 9 Channel 11 report. And when I do want to see 10 New Jersey news, I usually go to News 12 New 11 Jersey, because this is a much more accurate 12 representation of New Jersey news. So for 13 this reason, I urge the FCC not to renew the 14 license of WWOR. All we need is another 15 organization that represents New York based in 16 New Jersey. We already have the Giants. We 17 already have the Jets. The Mets are moving to 18 Brooklyn. So that's all I have to say. Thank 19 you very much.20 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 21 Tim Karr?22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 66 MR. KARR: Hi, I'm Timothy Karr, 1 the campaign director for Free Press, National 2 Media Reform Group, but I'm a longtime 3 resident of Hoboken, New Jersey. That we're 4 having this hearing today in Newark is a bit 5 of a miracle. It's a miracle because business 6 as usual at the FCC requires a television 7 station to do little more than mail a postcard 8 to Washington for a rubber stamp approval of 9 its license to broadcast. It's a miracle 10 because so many people in New Jersey took the 11 time to say enough business as usual, we 12 demand that you hear our concerns, concerns 13 about a conglomerate owned station that has 14 the gall to call itself My9 New York, in open 15 defiance of its mandate to serve the people of 16 northern New Jersey. But here's where the 17 miracle evaporates. If we're denied this 18 opportunity to remove WWOR's license today, 19 we'll have to wait another eight years before 20 we have an opportunity to challenge its 21 license again. It didn't always used to be 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 67 this way. It used to be that every three 1 years, a broadcaster had to demonstrate that 2 it was meeting a long list of FCC public 3 interest guidelines. But lobbyists working 4 for commercial broadcasters didn't like that 5 and they strong-armed the FCC to change their 6 renewal process to eight years, a postcard, 7 and a rubber stamp. Eight years is a long 8 time. Newark simply can't afford eight more 9 years of too little news and too much My9 New 10 York. Newark can't wait eight more years for 11 a station that doesn't even pretend to serve 12 our local interest while serving up a junk 13 news diet of murder, car crashes, and reality 14 television. The real reality is the people 15 before you today. We're sick and tired of 16 more business as usual at the FCC. We're sick 17 and tired because local newscasters like WWOR 18 have snubbed us. We aren't going to wait 19 another eight years. The FCC should stop this 20 neglect immediately and hand over WWOR's 21 license to a local broadcaster who really 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 68 cares about interests. Thank you.1 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 2 Christa Pugh?3 MS. PUGH: Thank you for this 4 opportunity to speak today. My name is 5 Christa Pugh and I am the regional management 6 director for the Eastern Region of the Ad 7 Council. I work with all local media outlets 8 in the New Jersey area to secure time and 9 space for our fifty-plus public service 10 campaigns. For over six decades, the Ad 11 Council has been successfully using public 12 service advertising to address the most 13 pressing social issues, to raise awareness in 14 spite of change, and make a positive 15 difference in our society. Because of WWOR-16 TV, fewer wildfires have started in places 17 like the Pine Barrens, fewer friends across 18 the state have let friends drive drunk, fewer 19 of our neighbors have experienced 20 discrimination. The Ad Council does not pay 21 for any media and relies solely on donated air 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 69 time. Because of My9, the people of New 1 Jersey are receiving critical information on a 2 host of pressing, locally important issues 3 including the prevention of youth reckless 4 driving, education on childhood obesity 5 prevention, the promotion of financial 6 literacy, the recruitment of mentors for local 7 Big Brother and Big Sister Chapters, autism 8 awareness, the reduction of gun violence, and 9 increasing parental involvement in schools. 10 And when the need is urgent, WWOR-TV responds 11 quickly. Recently, New Jersey and the greater 12 New York area experienced a critical blood 13 shortage. Within days, My9 was airing Ad 14 Council PSA's to help rapidly restore blood 15 link supplies. And for the past two years, 16 Lew Leone has served on our local leadership 17 committee representing all the TV stations in 18 the tri-state area, helping us to identify and 19 to respond to critical local issues. My9 has 20 demonstrated a remarkable commitment to public 21 service. They help raise awareness, change 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 70 behaviors, and ultimately save lives. On 1 behalf of all Ad Council nonprofit sponsors, I 2 am honored to be here today to thank and to 3 congratulate WWOR-TV for their terrific 4 support of local social issues --5 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you.6 MS. PUGH: -- that make a positive 7 difference in the New Jersey area.8 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you very 9 much. Before I announce the next speaker, 10 would the following people please come 11 forward. Kate Blofson, Debbie Spigner, Dale 12 Alexander, Bill Lavin, Louis Zanoni, Curtis 13 Farrow, Sharon Brown, Diane Doctor, and Faris 14 Jebara. Harold Winard? Mr. Winard, please, 15 step forward.16 MR. WINARD: Thank you very much. 17 I would first like to thank Senator 18 Lautenberg for facilitating this meeting and 19 the commissioners for being here in this 20 unusual meeting to air what you hear are the 21 grievances of the New Jersey public toward the 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 71 situation in broadcasting in New Jersey. I 1 would first like to emphasize that this is not 2 a new problem. My own personal involvement 3 and interest, and it goes back almost forty 4 years, I have here a letter from the 5 Commission that was sent to the late Senator 6 Clifford Case about the situation of 7 television broadcasting in New Jersey, and it 8 was from Mr. Cahill, legal assistant to the 9 chairman, and it's dated August 1968. That's 10 almost forty years ago. I have here clippings 11 that I maintain. TV plea by Harris, this is 12 from the New York Star Ledger, charging that 13 New York television stations have not lived up 14 to their pledge to improve their coverage in 15 New Jersey, Newark City Council President Earl 16 Harris has called on the members of FCC to 17 give the Garden State its own commercial 18 station. This is dated July 1977. Here's 19 another Star Ledger article, FCC asks New 20 York, Philly to increase Jersey news. This is 21 dated 1976. This is a problem that has been 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 72 going on for a very, very long time without 1 resolution. I hope this forum can serve as 2 the impetus for resolution of the problem, not 3 just with WWOR, which is an icon of the 4 problem, but for all stations that are 5 involved. Another issue, I hope the 6 Commission is not taken in by slick production 7 and commercial type presentation of what, what 8 Channel 9, WWOR-TV does by way of its news 9 coverage. What we see here is tokenism. We 10 see here news stories that are vetted against 11 the interest not of people in New Jersey, but 12 how much that story will appeal to the 13 interest of a listener in Brooklyn, New York. 14 We need New Jersey stories that are of 15 interest to people in New Jersey. I hope the 16 Commission sees fit to reject the application 17 of WWOR-TV and hopefully another --18 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you very 19 much. Reverend Jacques DeGraff?20 REVEREND DeGRAFF: Good evening. 21 I'd like to thank the Commission for being 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 73 here and the leadership of Senator Lautenberg. 1 My name is Reverend Jacques DeGraff. I'm 2 with the 100 Black Men. I would like to say 3 that I'm a Baptist and I'm a Democrat, and I'm 4 also a resident of New Jersey. In the 5 experience of African Americans and many other 6 people, media in general has disappointed, 7 stigmatized, and stereotyped many of us. And 8 so we approach all media with, with skepticism 9 at best. But I am here today to support the 10 license renewal for WWOR 9 because of my 11 specific and our specific experience with 12 them, the leadership from top to bottom, not 13 just Lew Leone but Gene Fuentes, Ian Moore, 14 Rupert Murdoch himself, who signed agreements 15 and kept their word, and exceeded their 16 expectation in providing resources for 17 mentoring and internship programs. And then 18 they went beyond that. They provided coverage 19 to the issues that were important in our 20 community. I serve on the board of the Newark 21 Community Health Centers in seven locations in 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 74 Essex County and they cover the issues that 1 are of concern to our communities. They are 2 people who have kept their word and kept their 3 commitment. The issues about the coverage and 4 the other concerns every person in New Jersey 5 whose safety and feeling shares those 6 concerns. But the license renewal, they are 7 the best ones to fulfill the obligations of 8 the license and to get it right. I want to 9 reward them for what they have done. And so 10 since they have done the right thing by us, we 11 want to stand with them today and continue to 12 support them. Thank you.13 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 14 Kate Blofson?15 MS. BLOFSON: Hi. Thank you, 16 commissioners, for taking the time to hold 17 this important hearing. My father is an 18 independent film maker who has lived and 19 worked in New Jersey for over thirty years. 20 He has produced documentaries on New Jersey 21 organizations and the important community 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 75 issues they work on like domestic violence, 1 child abuse, environmental degradation, 2 poverty, and housing among, among others, 3 mostly in Trenton. New Jersey -- NJN public 4 television is the only outlet in New Jersey 5 for documentaries like the ones my father 6 worked on. And according to him, NJN now has 7 its own stock that's been decades since 8 they've hired independent producers. There's 9 no other outlets in New Jersey that 10 independent producers like my dad can turn to. 11 The Philly and New York markets are very 12 difficult to break into and they're not 13 interested in the pieces that focus on New 14 Jersey communities. While I commend WWOR for 15 its community service and PSA's, community 16 service is not the same as providing broadcast 17 service and PSA's are often used by stations 18 to use up unsold airtime. My father ends up 19 showing his documentaries and workshops to 20 community organizations and at the library, 21 not on New Jersey's airways. I want New 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 76 Jersey's media outlets to cover the issues 1 facing our New Jersey communities and to give 2 a real opportunity to hear the voices he puts 3 on film. I applaud the commissioners and 4 Senator Lautenberg for taking the time to hold 5 the broadcast licensing holder accountable to 6 the community it is licensed to serve. While7 I don't expect the FCC to deny WWOR's license 8 renewal application, I do hope that this 9 hearing sets a kick in the pants precedent 10 across the country where broadcasters will 11 turn out to defend their licenses and are 12 forced to take seriously the mandates of their 13 public interest obligation. I also hope 14 Senator Lautenberg will choose to extend --15 concern over New Jersey televisions serving 16 New Jersey communities to local radio and 17 regions that are in -- discouraging local 18 radio in New Jersey.19 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 20 Debbie Spigner?21 MS. SPIGNER: Good evening. My 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 77 name is Debra Spigner. I'm from Metuchen. 1 I've been a resident of New Jersey for eleven 2 years. My husband, Bernard Spigner, was a 3 leadership New Jersey graduate 2006. He was a 4 radio talk show host for five years on WCPC 5 4050 AM. As a host, he always had the best 6 for New Jersey residents at heart when he 7 interviewed his, the leaders and when he 8 talked to citizens in a dialogue that he knew 9 was the ownership of the people of New Jersey.10 He was thrilled about the idea of bringing 11 this petition to the FCC for a number of 12 reasons. A born New Jerseyan, Bernard had a 13 passion for his state and for presenting a 14 positive image of -- people of New Jersey. It 15 was his wish to do and help to shape -- sorry, 16 the state image in a way that will give a more 17 balanced and progressive image unlike that 18 often painted by media of New York and 19 Philadelphia. It seems that the only new 20 coverage in Jersey by the media are the 21 negative issues, and Bernard always complained 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 78 about that. I'm here today to bring forth 1 this wish for my husband, who looked at the 2 relicensing of WWOR as an opportunity for New 3 Jersey residents to take in order to derive 4 more positive coverage for our state. I 5 remain in New Jersey and will continue to do 6 this, to endeavor to -- the opportunity to 7 receive the media coverage it deserves, the 8 people of New Jersey deserves, the minority 9 groups -- people who have no voice and hardly 10 ever heard. I will do -- my husband Bernard, 11 a true, true New Jerseyan.12 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 13 Dale Alexander?14 MR. ALEXANDER: Good afternoon. 15 I'm Dale Alexander. I am representing the 16 United Negro College Fund, New Jersey office, 17 which is based right here in Newark. I, 18 myself, have been a resident of Newark for 19 over forty years. We are charged in New 20 Jersey with raising funds from the New Jersey 21 community to support our mission of supporting 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 79 our thirty-nine historically Black colleges 1 and universities, as well as providing 2 scholarships and internships for students from 3 New Jersey to attend those schools and other 4 colleges around the country. Since our 5 partnership with My9 started two years ago, 6 they have been a strong supporter of helping 7 us in that mission in that they -- we are one 8 of the number one nonprofit organizations who 9 My9 runs our PSA's to get our mission out in 10 front of the public, as well as featuring two 11 of our staff members from the United Negro 12 College Fund, New Jersey office on My9's Real 13 Talk public access program. Through that, 14 that gives us another opportunity to get our 15 mission out towards the New Jersey public. 16 Finally, My9 has supported us in addition by 17 airing our "An Evening of Stars" television 18 special. January of 2007 was the first time 19 they aired it and they will air our 2008 20 special this coming January. And that one 21 television program is our greatest single 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 80 opportunity annually to get our message of 1 supporting our historically Black colleges and 2 universities, and the deserving students from 3 New Jersey who seek to attain a college 4 education but need funds to do so. So we 5 stand today in support of My9 and thank them 6 for their support of UNCF.7 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 8 Bill Lavin?9 MR. LAVIN: Thank you. Thanks for 10 the opportunity to speak to you today. I want 11 to certainly recognize Senator Lautenberg and 12 thank him for his support of firefighters. I 13 am an Elizabeth firefighter, right next door 14 to Newark. I also am the president of the New 15 Jersey State Fireman's Mutual Benevolent 16 Association, 5,500 career firefighters 17 throughout the state of New Jersey from Cape 18 May to Hoboken and beyond. It's ironic that I 19 am here today and have this opportunity 20 because I'm here to celebrate what WWOR has 21 done for the fire service in New Jersey. Our 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 81 issues don't always match that of government, 1 as Senator Lautenberg will attest to. Not all 2 the people who represent us in government 3 share our views as far as safety and staffing, 4 those issues, and I certainly want to 5 recognize Senator Lautenberg as one of the 6 champions of that. But Harry Martin, for one, 7 has allowed myself and others within the fire 8 service, one of the view who have allowed us 9 to go on air, on shows like Garden State 10 Matters and other PSA's that we have put out 11 our message as far as staffing and so on. In 12 addition to that, our humanitarian efforts, 13 when we responded to the Gulf Coast, to 14 Hurricane Katrina, and built handicap 15 accessible playgrounds for the people of the 16 Gulf Coast, when we worked with Save The 17 Children and other humanitarian issues, they 18 have always been there for us. We have 19 honored in 2006, Harry Martin, Joe Silvestre 20 for what they have done for us, giving them 21 awards that we rarely give to media. In the 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 82 wake of September 11th, it was about New 1 Jersey firefighters and how we responded and 2 what that meant. I'd also just like to, I 3 would love to see the Jets and Giants call 4 themselves the New Jersey Jets and New Jersey 5 Giants. So if that's the issue, so be it. 6 But my support is squarely behind the people 7 who have helped us in the past. So thank you 8 for your time.9 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 10 Louis Zanoni?11 MR. ZANONI: Yes. My name is 12 Louis Zanoni. I am, I am the chairman of 13 WCPN-TV, a classic television station on 14 Channel 25 in Trenton, the only TV station in 15 the area that produces daily newscasts that 16 focuses all of the, all of the attention on 17 the news in New Jersey. New Jersey is a small 18 sandwiched state between the major markets of 19 New York and Philadelphia. It's only natural 20 that the big stations will gravitate towards 21 the big cities that have happen, that have --22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 83 happened in New Jersey since the advent of 1 television since almost sixty years ago. 2 Stations in northern New Jersey try to be New 3 York stations and stations in the south try to 4 be Philadelphia. That's always going to 5 happen, even when Congress gives stations like 6 WWOR a new license in return for moving across 7 the river to New Jersey because big market 8 dollars will always drive the marketplace. 9 But New Jersey can have its own real TV 10 broadcast identity through Class A stations 11 like my own. Our, our signal doesn't cover 12 Philadelphia, so we serve the area we cover, 13 our state capital of Trenton. We're a truly 14 New Jersey station, but we are blocked over 15 the air by, by -- over the air again by cable 16 companies that won't carry our station. We 17 live close to, we live close to the -- we live 18 close to the station because we can't get to, 19 get to the major TV distributor systems. The 20 digital transition will make, will make it 21 worse and will kill us altogether because a 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 84 lot of the converting boxes that government is 1 subsidizing will block our analog signal and 2 keep us out of, keep us out of more TV 3 receivers than cable already has kept us from 4 reaching. Thank you. Thank you very much.5 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Curtis Farrow?6 MR. FARROW: Before you start that 7 clock, good afternoon.8 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Start the 9 clock. Start the clock.10 MR. FARROW: I just want to say 11 this has nothing to do with this but I hope 12 that we can get some heat in here. Good 13 afternoon, everybody. My name is A. Curtis 14 Farrow. I am the owner of Urban Street Rap, 15 which is located right here in the beautiful, 16 magnificent City of Newark, New Jersey. We 17 can happily clap to that. It is with great 18 pride and pleasure that I am here today. And 19 I didn't realize that this was not going to be 20 a slam dunk because, in my opinion, it should 21 be. I represent the McDonald's Gospel Fest. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 85 We -- I am the producer of the largest gospel 1 fest not only in the country but in the world. 2 Yes, you can clap to that. And we get over 3 80,000 kids and members of churches that 4 audition for the gospel fest. Out of that 5 80,000, 30,000 come from the state of New 6 Jersey. And if I would have known it was 7 going to be this kind of affair, I would have 8 brought them here with me, today. I say that 9 to say My9 has always been in our corner. We 10 -- I've been producing it for nine years. 11 This is the twenty-fifty anniversary. And I 12 am going to say this because it's true, we 13 were at ABC for five years. We moved, 14 senator, to My9 four years ago and we have 15 never got the response from New Jersey the way 16 we get it now. And I'm, I'm surprised. I'm 17 standing here going like are these people 18 watching the same newscasts that I watch? Are 19 you really Channel 9 viewers? I am. I don't 20 get it. But I will say to the FCC not only 21 should you give them their license, they 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 86 deserve their license, our mayor, I called the 1 mayor. I called Mildred Crump and said, you 2 know what, this year is the twenty-fifth 3 anniversary of the McDonald's Gospel Fest, the 4 largest gospel event. We want to bring it to 5 Newark. I haven't heard from them yet. But 6 guess who calls me? My9 is like a Cassidy in 7 Newark. And guess what?8 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 9 MR. FARROW: It's going to be in 10 Newark. My9 deserves --11 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you very 12 much.13 MR. FARROW: -- their license. 14 They deserve their license.15 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you very 16 much, Mr. Farrow.17 MR. FARROW: They deserve their 18 license --19 (Simultaneous speech)20 MODERATOR SIGALOS: I would now 21 like to --22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 87 MR. FARROW: They deserve their 1 license. Thank you. 2 MODERATOR SIGALOS: We actually 3 heard they deserve their license the first 4 time and we appreciate the repetition. Sharon 5 Brown.6 MS. BROWN: Hello. My name is 7 Sharon Brown and I represent the state African 8 American Festival. And I'm honored to be here 9 to support My9. And I'm in a most unique 10 position because I must be the only person 11 here that My9 chased down from the public 12 affairs office. In fact, they chased me down, 13 Joan chased me down when I was in Aruba with 14 my husband, and then they chased me down at 15 the Christian Education Conference. They 16 really reached out to the African American 17 Festival because they wanted to do a piece on 18 our senator. And we were very pleased to have19 them do a piece. We celebrated our twentieth 20 anniversary. And we could never get up north 21 at all. I live in Monmouth County and that's 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 88 where the festival is. And, finally, they 1 called me so much, we came down, we did a half 2 hour piece, and we went from 5,000 attendants 3 to 7,000 people coming. And we got vendors, 4 non-food vendors, and food vendors that came. 5 It upped everything. So we went from giving 6 five students $500 scholarships to $1,000 7 scholarships to ten people every year. And 8 that was three years ago, and we're still 9 working and growing. And it's all because of 10 this man that we gave an award to. And, 11 unfortunately, he died. And we give out 12 community awards. He was the first non-13 African American to get this award. It's very 14 difficult to give. It's the Outstanding 15 Community Award and we've only given out, in 16 twenty years, fifteen of them. And it went to 17 their Ray Blanco, and Lou -- received this, he 18 passed, for his outstanding dedication to the 19 community.20 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you.21 MS. BROWN: In his memory, he died 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 89 before we could give it to him.1 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you very 2 much.3 MS. BROWN: And that's the book. 4 And thank you.5 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 6 Before I announce the next speaker, would the 7 following people come forward, Ann Rea, 8 Barbara Belasco, Steve Edwards, Tracey Reed, 9 Mario Tapia, Duda Pentiado, Tom Dallessio, 10 Kaili Baucum. I'm now going to announce our 11 sixteenth registered speaker. It's a big 12 after 5:30 and we have thirty-seven in total, 13 and many busy schedules. Senator Lautenberg?14 SENATOR LAUTENBERG: I will be 15 just one minute's worth because the one thing 16 I want clearly understood is this criticism, 17 if it is that, at WWOR is not that they don't 18 do a lot of good things. They do a lot of 19 very good things. We think that more can be 20 done for the reasons that have already been 21 stated and restated. But I just wanted to 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 90 clear that air. And I congratulate you, 1 Harry, and all of your colleagues for work 2 that you do on behalf of the community. It's 3 wonderful. But we've got to have more news. 4 Thank you very, very much. I must go now. 5 Forgive me, please.6 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Diane Doctor?7 MS. DOCTOR: Hi.8 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Hold on a 9 second. Move that stand real quickly. That's 10 it.11 MS. DOCTOR: Much better. Hi, I'm 12 Diane Doctor. And I was the news director at 13 Channel 2 and Channel 4, and I was the 14 assistant news director at Channel 9, but I 15 won't tell you how long ago that was, so I 16 have a fair idea of news coverage in this 17 market. And I echo what was said earlier. I 18 believe that Channel 9 has done a great job of 19 covering New Jersey. I won't go into 20 specifics, but I'll point out that it's very 21 unusual in this business, and I'm an example 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 91 of more typical of movement from station to 1 station. Channel 9 has some people that have 2 been in this market, and have covered it and 3 stayed at the station, and have provided great 4 depth and great news judgment. And the 5 station has also accumulated probably more 6 Emmy awards for its investigative reporting 7 and its distinguished reporting in New Jersey 8 than most people realize. Brenda Blackman, 9 Russ Salzberg, Steve Linden, Jim Driscoll, who 10 was a production assistant when I was at 11 Channel 9 is now the new director, these are 12 people that live in New Jersey, that know the 13 state, and that are highly respected as 14 journalists. And I just thought you all ought 15 to know that. Real quickly, you probably saw 16 me on that videotape. I produce "NJ My Way," 17 which is an online, daily e-newsletter. And 18 it's all about the positive things in New 19 Jersey. When I left broadcast news, I vowed 20 to try to take my home state to a different 21 public relations profile. And every day we 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 92 publish something that tells people of New 1 Jersey something good, something positive, and 2 something to their benefit. And when I called 3 Lew Leone and I said I'm doing this, could you 4 put it on Channel 9's website, he welcomed it 5 with open arms. And if you check it out, on 6 their website you'll find great content about 7 New Jersey and all the positive things about 8 the state. Thank you very much.9 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 10 Faris Jebara?11 MR. JEBARA: Hi, my name is Faris 12 Jebara. I'm a student here at Rutgers 13 University and an intern for the public 14 interest group, New Jersey's B NJPIRG for 15 Student Chapters. Since September of this 16 year, NJPIRG has dedicated its efforts to 17 registering the student and the people of New 18 Jersey to vote in the past election. When not 19 working on this campaign, I was truly 20 flabbergasted and appalled at the political 21 ignorance of my peers. WWOR, also more 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 93 commonly known as My9NewYork, ironically 1 enough this is New Jersey's only public 2 broadcasting media outlet's name, has done 3 minimal to cover and inform the citizens of 4 which it is both financially and socially 5 responsible to. No longer will, no longer 6 will New Jersey's only public media -- no 7 longer will New Jersey's only public news 8 broadcasting be taken hostage by self-9 interested business people with money-making 10 as their sole prerogative. No longer should 11 this be tolerated on the backs of my 12 politically ignorant peers. Thank you. 13 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 14 Ann Rea?15 MS. REA: Hi, my name, my name is 16 Ann Rea, and I live in Montclair, New Jersey. 17 After twenty years of viewing the affects of 18 the free market on television since media 19 deregulation rules were passed in the 1980's, 20 I can clearly see that government regulation 21 has the potential to benefit society. The 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 94 people of New Jersey need to have more 1 information to make political decisions. They 2 need a constant stream of news on a daily 3 basis to make important judgments about their 4 communities and their lives. Responsible 5 journalism and fact-based reporting are 6 essential to our democracy. The Founding 7 Fathers knew that a well established news 8 media with lots of competition was essential 9 to the running of our democratic institutions. 10 They made deliberate plans to support it and 11 the creation of a postal subsidy that made it 12 less expensive to send newspapers and 13 periodicals around the country. In 231 years, 14 our means of getting the news has shifted. We 15 have television now and that requires new 16 rules to support the free flow of news and 17 information, and we need our government to do 18 this job. A civilized country needs to 19 nurture the sources of news, which we used to 20 do in these United States. To have the 21 citizens' participation as required by our 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 95 form of government, we need readily available 1 and accurate information to thrive as a strong 2 nation at home and abroad. I urge the FCC not 3 to issue this broadcast license renewal. The 4 FCC should use this process to promote better 5 news service to the people of New Jersey. 6 Thank you for your time.7 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 8 Barbara Belasco?9 MS. BELASCO: Hello, I'm Barbara 10 Belasco.11 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Could you 12 adjust that microphone? Yes.13 MS. BELASCO: Thank you. I need a 14 short one, thanks. I'm Barbara Belasco and I 15 live in Glen Arden, but I'm here on behalf of 16 the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. 17 We're a nonpartisan organization, which 18 encourage the active informed participation of 19 citizens in government. We believe that good 20 government depends on informed and effective 21 electorate, which is why I am here today. We 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 96 also believe that WWOR-TV is not covering the 1 important issues facing state and local 2 citizens. How are we being served by WWOR-TV? 3 I don't have a polling organization to help 4 me, but I did bring a schedule, last week's 5 schedule. And if you look at that and I'd be 6 glad to leave it with you, thirty-five hours 7 of programming is devoted to infomercials. 8 The nightly news show, My9 News, which I did 9 watch last night, is mostly sensational 10 stories about crime. Most of the remainder of 11 the schedule, at least last week, was filmed 12 entertainment leftovers from Channel 5's 13 inventory. But, on Sunday afternoon, there 14 was a half-hour public affairs show called NJ 15 Now, and I understand that the show after it, 16 called Real Talk, may also be a public affairs 17 program. What's new? Where are the important 18 national issues, the ones that have an impact 19 on New Jersey residents, local warming, 20 healthcare, the Iraqi war? What about 21 specifically New Jersey issues? For example, 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 97 the new state school funding formula, property 1 tax reform, political correction, clean 2 elections. Where are they? Where are the 3 children's shows? I didn't see any children's 4 shows on the schedule. Where are the New 5 Jersey cultural institutions, New Jersey 6 Symphony, NJ -- the New Jersey Symphony 7 Theater, and excuse me -- in conclusion, the 8 existing license was granted with the 9 requirement to operate in New Jersey for the 10 benefit of the people of the state. Before 11 you give a valuable public asset to the 12 current licensee --13 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 14 MS. BELASCO: -- please -- the 15 needs of citizens. Thank you. 16 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you very 17 much. Steve Edwards?18 MR. EDWARDS: Thank you, Mr. 19 Chairman. My name is Steve Edwards. I'm on 20 the Board of Commissioners for the New Jersey 21 Hall of Fame. The mission of the New Jersey 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 98 Hall of Fame is to celebrate the Garden State 1 by honoring our icons that have lived among us 2 throughout the years and sending a positive 3 message to children, providing them with 4 positive roll models, hopefully motivating and 5 inspiring them to become the next Thomas 6 Edison, the next Albert Einstein, and so 7 forth. I'm pleased to say that My9 has been 8 extremely helpful to the Hall of Fame, in 9 particular Harry Martin, Joe Silvestre, Audrey 10 Pass, who just walked out of the room, Lew 11 Leone, and the late Ray Blanco. Recently, 12 they aired PSA's, I think a couple of dozen of 13 them, over a three-month period and during 14 prime time hours, I may add. They also 15 produced a thirty-minute Hall of Fame show, 16 which did a great job at promoting the Hall of 17 Fame. Quite frankly, their support has been 18 critical because it has come during the stages 19 of our development, and we're very grateful 20 for that. Moving forward, they generously 21 offered to televise the Red Carpet. I'll get 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 99 a plug in. It's going to be May 4th at the 1 Performing Arts Center in Newark. They've 2 offered to televise that Red Carpet ceremony 3 and future PSA's, and to do a future Hall of 4 Fame show. So we look forward to working with 5 them, very grateful for their support. 6 They've been tremendous media partners. We 7 hope you'll give your fullest consideration to 8 their renewal. I do want to add, I give 9 Debbie Spigner a lot of credit. I knew 10 Bernard. He was a great, great, great man. 11 I'm sorry I'm on the other side of the issue 12 from Debbie, but it takes a lot of courage to 13 get up and do that. And Ray Blanco, your Ray 14 Blanco was a very special man. So thank you 15 very much.16 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 17 Tracey Reed?18 MS. REED: Yes. My name is Tracey 19 Reed. I am a lifelong resident of New Jersey, 20 currently reside in Roxbury, in northwestern 21 New Jersey, and I am a member of Voice for New 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 100 Jersey. I'd like to welcome the commissioners 1 and their staff to New Jersey. We love our 2 state and all we want is to see our state 3 justly served by our television station. 4 I'd like to comment today, in 5 addition to all of what's been said, on a 6 quote that appeared in the Star Ledger, today, 7 in the article about the hearing, which was 8 attributed to Audrey Pass. Ms. Pass is 9 identified as a spokesperson for WWOR and is 10 quoted as saying that she would be surprised 11 if a day went by when there wasn't a New 12 Jersey story or a story of interest to New 13 Jersey residents appearing on the station's 14 nightly newscast. 15 Is that last qualifier really 16 necessary? This would seem to be an 17 acknowledgment that the station cannot plainly 18 claim to offer up even one real New Jersey 19 news story each day. 20 Is the standard implied in this 21 comment really that the public interest 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 101 standard that the FCC is willing to accept on 1 behalf of the people of New Jersey? Let's 2 talk about that implicit standard. Are a 3 station's public interest obligations truly 4 satisfied if it simply broadcasts content that 5 is of interest to people in the community of 6 license? I would shudder to think what would 7 happen if the FCC were to passively accept 8 such a standard. 9 By this logic, presumably, a 10 station could broadcast infomercials twenty-11 four hours a day. The station could then 12 claim that their public interest obligations 13 were satisfied if people in the community of 14 license ordered up some Ginsu knives, or some 15 Bowflex machines, or natural cures books. 16 After all, would not such orders demonstrate 17 that the programming was of interest? 18 If the standard of service to the 19 community is that some New Jersey residents 20 are interested in the contents of the 21 station's broadcast, we may as well 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 102 acknowledge that there are no standards in 1 effect at all. In that case, the FCC would do 2 well simply to auction off the licenses or 3 sell them.4 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 5 MS. REED: Thank you.6 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you very 7 much. Mario Tapia?8 MR. TAPIA: Good afternoon. First 9 of all, I would like to thank U.S. Senator 10 Frank Lautenberg and the FCC for this 11 important forum and the opportunity to express 12 ideals. My name is Mario Tapia. I am the 13 president and CEO of the Latino Gerontological 14 Center. This is a national nonprofit 15 organization dedicated to improving the life 16 of the Latino. 17 I have been a resident of New 18 Jersey since 1973. My questions are has WWOR-19 TV invited us to participate in their 20 community care programming? Has WWOR-TV 21 provided us a space to publicly discuss the 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 103 lack of access for the Latino elderly in the 1 State of New Jersey? Does WWOR-TV understand 2 and support our efforts as a nonprofit 3 organization? The answer to all these 4 questions is yes. 5 We feel that WWOR-TV has been 6 fulfilling the public interest on the people 7 matters in New Jersey better than any other TV 8 station including WNJN and NJU's station. We 9 have been relating to WWOR-TV for a long time. 10 We=ve been invited several times to their 11 show LatiNation, and most recently to Real 12 Talk. An important aspect of WWOR-TV 13 programming for community affairs is that 14 these shows are seen during prime time slots 15 and not in the usual time of other TV stations 16 for these types of programs. We strongly 17 support the renewal of the license for WWOR-18 TV. Again, thank you.19 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 20 Duda Penteado?21 MR. PENTEADO: Thank you, 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 104 committee, senator. My name is Duda Penteado. 1 I'm the chair of the Artist Certification 2 Board of the City of Jersey City. I'm a fine 3 artist. And I'm coming here to stand in 4 support of Channel 9 and to thank Channel 9 5 for the support of the Arts. 6 I'm a citizen of the United States 7 for more than ten years and I live in this 8 Jersey City for more than ten years as well. 9 I have seen increasing coverage of Channel 9 10 in the City of Jersey City, a few events like 11 Liberty Science Center, the Arts Education 12 Board, it was an important board that was 13 seeking to give back to living artists. 14 In the waterfront of Jersey City, 15 they have covered, and other events, as 16 community events as well as hosting the 17 president of New Jersey university to talk 18 about the monthly development of the 19 university and others. So I stand here to 20 thank Channel 9 and the work with the Arts and 21 the committee. And thank you to be covering 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 105 more exciting news in Jersey City. Thank you 1 very much.2 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 3 Before I announce the next speaker, would the 4 following people head to the nearest 5 microphone, Daniel Schoenberg, Dock Russell, 6 Marianne Hartman, Juan Nortez, Joseph 7 Occhipinti, and Luis Diaz. Tom Dallessio?8 MR. DALLESSIO: Good afternoon. 9 Thank you very much. I'm Tom Dallessio. I'm 10 a lifelong New Jersey resident. And I am the 11 executive director of Leadership of New 12 Jersey. I am proud of the work that the 13 Leadership of New Jersey, Class of 2006 has 14 created in a voice for New Jersey, but I am 15 speaking as a private citizen for these 16 comments. 17 I'd like to thank Senator 18 Lautenberg, who is an honorary fellow of 19 Leadership of New Jersey, and the FCC for 20 holding this hearing in New Jersey and 21 according New Jersey the respect we deserve 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 106 and we've earned. 1 My9, I'm sad to say, isn't my 9. 2 I do watch my Yankees, but that's about it. 3 I'm disappointed in the news coverage. The 4 critical issues of infrastructure, land use, 5 education, and environment are never really 6 covered in any substantive way. 7 New Jersey leads the way in open 8 space preservation, and public transportation, 9 and higher education. On rare occasion, 10 coverage is at best sensationalistic; at 11 worse, trite. 12 The people of New Jersey are 13 smart, proud, and discerning. We have high 14 incomes and we're highly involved. We deserve 15 better. I ask the FCC, please, to set 16 performance standards, set requirements that 17 will set the standard for the rest of the 18 nation for news, public affairs, political 19 coverage, and spotlight on our leaders.20 As I said, My9 isn't my 9, but it 21 could be. They should want me to watch. They 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 107 need to earn my watching the TV. This is the 1 public airways. You have the opportunity to 2 create a standard and I hope you will do that. 3 Thank you. 4 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 5 Kaili Baucum? Kaili Baucum? Daniel 6 Schoenberg?7 MR. SCHOENBERG: Hi, my name is 8 Daniel Schoenberg. I'm a first-year law 9 student here at Rutgers Law School, Newark, 10 and I'm born and raised here in New Jersey. 11 And I would just like to comment that I, too, 12 am not a Channel 9 viewer because Channel 9 13 does not show the programs that I wish it were 14 showing. 15 We had four ballot initiatives on 16 the ballot this past November and there was 17 barely any coverage, barely any mention of the 18 issues. We've had several recent scandals 19 that involved -- that could have and should 20 have involved investigative reporting by a 21 local New Jersey channel such as our U.S. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 108 attorney being on the list of the attorneys to 1 be fired. And then our senator being accused 2 of housing violations and bribes, that was 3 very minimally covered. 4 Any of the political news 5 websites, there was no YouTube or Channel 9 6 videos of investigative reporters talking 7 about this, and that makes me sad that the 8 channel that is supposed to be representing us 9 isn't, you know, out there covering news that 10 we want covered. Thank you. 11 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 12 Dock Russell?13 MR. RUSSELL: Good evening. My 14 name is Dock Russell and I live in Hackensack, 15 New Jersey. I'm here to represent KCAP and 16 the community. I want to take this time to 17 thank the appreciation of Senator Lautenberg, 18 the FCC Commissioners, and Channel 9, My9. 19 I've been living in Hackensack 20 over the past four years and I've been there 21 and basically been involved in organizations 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 109 that they're at the level of communication PR 1 and communication. And what we've noticed 2 that whenever the why question comes up, 3 somebody is going to get fired, in the Black 4 community when you ask why, so a lot of people 5 just ask why. But every now and then you've 6 got to ask why things don't happen. 7 My first question is, are there 8 any representatives from the Elks here or from 9 the Masonics? You know, those are the 10 organizations that are in the minority 11 community that should have representation at 12 something like this and should be recognized 13 in the community by organizations such as My9 14 or any other media organization. 15 What I'd like to see is I just 16 have four basic things that I want to suggest. 17 I'm not here to criticize Channel 9 or 18 critique them. I'm here to help guide them. 19 Basically, what I'd like to see, I'd like to 20 see them have a presence in the community. I 21 would like to have them to create waves to 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 110 become user friendly to the communities that 1 are not tied in. 2 In the minority community where I 3 come from, people, they say you can come, but 4 people don't think you mean that when you say 5 that. So you have to have, introduce a 6 presence that suggests that it's real. 7 Another thing that I would like 8 them to identify organizations or programs in 9 the community that they can associate 10 themselves with, if the community don't come 11 forward. Now over my time, four years I've 12 been there, I've been working in this state 13 with a lot of organization. Thank you.14 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you very 15 much. Marianne Hartman?16 MS. HARTMAN: Hi, my name is 17 Marianne Hartman. I'm Director of 18 Communication, the Office of Radio and 19 Television for the Diocese of Trenton, and I 20 have two brief statements regarding religious 21 programming on Channel 9. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 111 One is from James Goodness, who is 1 the Director of Communication for the 2 Archdiocese of Newark, who couldn't be here 3 because he's out of town at a conference. And 4 James Goodness said that there are many 5 particularly older shut-in Catholics in 6 northern New Jersey who feel the loss very 7 strongly of a program like the Sunday mass on 8 Channel 9, which was discontinued. 9 They do not have access to cable 10 and, as a result, cannot get the mass unless 11 they are up at 5:00 a.m. in the morning to 12 view it on Channel 5, a New York based 13 station. There is also a distinct void in 14 service of religious programming that Channel 15 9 used to fill. Similarly, many ethnic 16 Catholic groups lament the fact that the 17 ethnic programming in public affairs that 18 Channel 9 used to offer has left them without 19 an outlet to express their view to the larger 20 community. 21 And also my statement, in addition 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 112 to the discontinuation of the Sunday mass, 1 Channel 9 also terminated the tri-state 2 religious program, Point Of View. Each week, 3 this program alternated point of views of the 4 three main faith groups at the time, Judaism, 5 Protestants, and Catholics. 6 They discontinued this program 7 despite the fact that religious and government 8 leaders wrote letters opposing it. Currently, 9 Channel 9 does not provide free public service 10 air time to religious groups or denominations 11 here in the state. 12 I believe that Channel 9 could do 13 a better service to its viewers by providing 14 some of the fine religious programming 15 produced here in New Jersey that would benefit 16 the unique spiritual needs of the community.17 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 18 Juan Nortez?19 MR. NORTEZ: First off, thank you 20 to the commissioners for coming here. I was 21 asked when I came in here who do I represent. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 113 I have been a lifelong resident of Newark, 1 proud of it, and I'm also equally proud that I 2 started my business here. 3 But I've been in the broadcasting 4 business for twenty-six years. And, 5 fortunately, when I went through Seton Hall, 6 my internship between Channel 4, Channel 9, 7 and Channel 11. But my thing, my situation 8 has been that I know what's happening on both 9 sides. The problem is how do we best cover 10 the community that surrounds us. 11 And that's important for Newark 12 especially, because unlike what we have been 13 hearing in the news, there is a lot more going 14 good in Newark than the murders and the gangs 15 than anything else. These are the things that 16 need to come out. So we have to figure out 17 what are the best ways of doing that. 18 And one of the -- in starting my 19 business, which is in broadcasting, to try to 20 do things on radio is that I went through and 21 heard Commissioner Adelstein, who made a 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 114 comment in closing a public hearing two years 1 ago about what localism is supposed to be all 2 about. That is something that I put up on my 3 wall in the business. And we have to figure 4 out how we best do that. 5 If My9 can't do it because they 6 have a wide coverage, then we have to do 7 something about radio. We have two radio 8 stations in our community. That's illegal 9 right now. They're operating from New York 10 City, WNJR, which has the history, should be 11 looked at, too, not just WWOR.12 So that's, I needed to say that we 13 need to have a public hearing on what is the 14 attitude in the New York market and what will 15 we best be able to do as far as localism in 16 this area.17 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 18 Joseph Occhipinti?19 MR. OCCHIPINTI: I represent the 20 National Police Defense Foundation, which has 21 over 110,000 members and supporters, most of 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 115 which are based here in the State of New 1 Jersey. We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in 2 Marlboro, New Jersey. And from a law 3 enforcement point of view, it will be a 4 tremendous loss for the New Jersey law 5 enforcement community if the license for WWOR 6 was not renewed. 7 I can tell you firsthand that on 8 my Rolodex, when there is any law enforcement 9 related things that have to be put out on the 10 air, Steve Linden, who is one of the editors, 11 is always there to assist the law enforcement 12 community. 13 We run several programs. We run a 14 state cop program which post a $10,000 reward 15 when any law enforcement officer is shot in 16 the line of duty. We also run Operation Hits. 17 When we have missing children, we post 18 rewards for the safe recovery. We also, in 19 the interest of promoting positive police 20 relations in the immigrant community, we fly 21 anywhere in the world and bring back children 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 116 for life-saving operations. In each and every 1 one of these cases I've described, WWOR has 2 been there and publicized it. 3 Now there has been a lot of 4 controversy about coverage of New York related 5 stuff. I can tell you that when there is a 6 seizure that takes place or an arrest of a 7 terrorist group in New York, it has an impact 8 on New Jersey because the coverage of New York 9 related law and criminal stories have an 10 impact on Jersey residents. 11 Again I could tell you, I think 12 you sent the message here to WWOR that perhaps 13 they have to focus more of their attention. 14 But as my counterpart in the Fire part has 15 stated, they have been a tremendous source for 16 the law enforcement community and I recommend 17 the approval on their license.18 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 19 Before I announce the next speaker, I'd like 20 to call up the last six who had registered 21 today, Jeannette Mistretta, Joseph Crooms, 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 117 Wilbur McNeil, Larry Petrillo, William Terry, 1 and Frank Scandale. Now Luis Diaz?2 MR. DIAZ: Good evening, 3 commissioners. My name is Luis Diaz. I'm 4 president of the U.S. Hispanic Advocacy 5 Association, which represents Hispanic 6 consumers.7 There are some facts that I just 8 want to point out. These are good people and 9 they've done good work, and we appreciate 10 that. I live in New Jersey. I work in New 11 Jersey. However, New Jersey is not on a level 12 playing field when it comes to media coverage. 13 That is a fact. 14 It is also a fact that the 15 minority communities within New Jersey, within 16 the local representation and media coverage, 17 are not adequately represented from our 18 perspective. It is also a fact that we're not 19 here to talk about charitable events or 20 charitable outreach, but rather substantive 21 media coverage. That's what this issue is 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 118 about. 1 And, therefore, I am very 2 concerned that the facts that were highlighted 3 by the Eagleton Institute research, that they 4 should weigh in our minds as highly relevant. 5 Specifically, as Senator Lautenberg 6 mentioned, leading up to the 2005 elections, 7 there were many localized elections to serve 8 in coverage. 9 WWOR ran ten New Jersey election 10 stories in the thirty days prior, nine of 11 these were on the governor's race, thus 12 providing effectively little coverage on the 13 New Jersey elections. 14 When WWOR applied for a license 15 renewal, they attached eleven exhibits. These 16 were entitled service to New Jersey, covered 17 eight years from '99 to 2006. The documents 18 were to demonstrate commitment and it cited 19 airing 13,054 New Jersey stories, 170 stories 20 per year, fact; less than two stories -- less 21 than one every two days, that is also a fact. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 119 New Jersey is going through an 1 incredible period of transition. We are 2 facing monumental problems as a result of a 3 global economy, as a result healthcare issues, 4 as a result of the budget crisis. This is the 5 time. This is the window of opportunity to 6 send a good message to our friends that they 7 need to do more. Thank you. 8 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 9 Jeannette Mistretta? Jeannette? Joseph 10 Crooms?11 MR. CROOMS: Good evening, 12 everyone. To our panel, we -- greetings from 13 the Guardian Angels. Our illustrious leader, 14 Mr. Curtis Sliwa could not be here today, 15 asked that I would instead. 16 I'm attending in two forms of 17 fashion. One, I'm a recent person that 18 moved/migrated to New Jersey about four years 19 ago. And I want to say to My9 that when I 20 moved to New Jersey, I didn't know how to get 21 around, and I didn't know where to turn. And 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 120 then when I turned to Channel 9, My9 was 1 there. And they sort of helped me get around. 2 So I speak as a father. I speak 3 as a husband. I speak as a person that just 4 moved to New Jersey. And I also would like to 5 speak on behalf of the Guardian Angels, who 6 we're going to be working in Elizabeth to help 7 with the crime situation with the Board of 8 Education system there. 9 I know that My9 will be there to 10 make sure that our message gets out and that 11 we will be able to do a quality job. So I 12 would like to close by saying that from what I 13 see and in the simplicity of My9, I think 14 they're ready for the challenge. 15 I think that they're a 16 professional team that is accepting the 17 challenge. They're absorbing it. And I think 18 that they should receive their license. And I 19 think that this forum from all sides gave them 20 the information that they needed to be the 21 quality journalists that they are. Thank you. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 121 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 1 Wilbur McNeil?2 MR. McNEIL: My name is Wilbur 3 McNeil. I represent the Like It Is coalition. 4 It's a consortium of about twenty African 5 American organizations in New York, New 6 Jersey, and Connecticut. 7 We started on this, the Save It 8 Like It Is program, but when we began to look 9 at the media, we came to the conclusion that 10 it was all based in terms of minority 11 representation, so we filed petitions with the 12 FCC and we have been calling for FCC hearings 13 in Newark. And I didn't find out about this 14 one until three o'clock. 15 But we've been calling for FCC 16 hearings in Newark about the media all along. 17 We have submitted petitions to deny all the 18 major networks their license because of the19 conditions that they treat minorities in our 20 community. And I want to thank you.21 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 122 Larry Petrillo?1 MR. PETRILLO: Good evening, 2 members of the FCC Commission. I'd just like 3 to say I'm the Director of the Division of 4 Fire Safety. And I'm here not to make a 5 recommendation for or against the license for 6 WWOR, I'm here to provide some information 7 that will hopefully help you in your decision-8 making. 9 We -- the mission of the Division 10 of Fire Safety is to save lives and protect 11 people from the horrors of fire. One of the 12 ways we do that primarily is through 13 education. And we have a great partnership 14 with WWOR in helping us get that message out 15 to the citizens of New Jersey on fire safety. 16 Whenever we have had incidents, 17 for example, we had a multiple fatality of 18 citizens in a hotel, we were able to reach out 19 to WWOR and ask them if they would help us 20 provide messages to the public that would help 21 them when they go out on vacation or into a 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 123 not familiar location.1 We have also utilized them to help 2 us get the message of fire safety to our 3 children. They participate in our, what we 4 call a FIRE bowl, which is an acronym for fire 5 information, rescue, and education program, 6 which is a college bowl type competition where 7 we literally have hundreds of children 8 participate in a competition on fire safety. 9 And the members of WWOR, 10 specifically Harry Martin, has helped us get 11 that message out to the citizens of New 12 Jersey. We have also been able, had the 13 opportunity to participate in Garden State 14 Matters to get our fire safety message out. 15 Thank you. 16 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 17 William Terry?18 MR. TERRY: Hello, everyone. Good 19 evening. It's a pleasure to be here today. 20 First of all, I would like to acknowledge, of 21 course, the Office of Senator Lautenberg, and 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 124 all his members and staff members, and of 1 course the FCC for being here as well and for 2 having this public hearing. 3 I'm originally from New York, but 4 now I live in Ancora, New Jersey, so getting 5 used to being out here and living in the State 6 of New Jersey. The points I'd like to raise 7 are the need for improved media coverage, 8 definitely, in the State of New Jersey, and 9 some of these points have been brought out 10 already. 11 Although one of the most affluent 12 and densely populated states in the nation, 13 New Jersey is one of the only two states 14 without a VHF network television affiliate. 15 This deficit is all the more remarkable in 16 light of the following. 17 New Jersey has the second highest 18 per capita income in the nation. When 19 analyzed by race and country of origin, New 20 Jersey is the most demographically diverse 21 state in the nation. That in itself includes 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 125 a huge responsibility on the part of Channel 9 1 News and the complete Channel 9, My9 WWOR-TV 2 organization because you have to look at each 3 community differently and you have to be able 4 to show both sides, not just the negative 5 things that happen through a series of social 6 problems that people could be experiencing, 7 but all the positive things that have been8 going on in these communities, but as well as 9 the cultural programs, education, and the 10 needs of those communities. It has to be 11 looked upon as on a wide scale, from a state 12 and local level, and the neighborhoods. 13 Vermont, the nation's second 14 smallest state by population, has two network 15 affiliates, White River Junction, population, 16 2,600. It is home to Vermont=s NBC affiliate. 17 Now, of New Jersey's 566 municipalities, 466 18 have more people than White River Junction. 19 That is a gross, gross disparity. The State 20 of North Dakota ranks forty-eight in 21 population.22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 126 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 1 MR. TERRY: Yet, it is home to 2 nine network affiliates. I'll just say that 3 Channel 9 needs to do a lot more before the 4 FCC renews this subsidiary.5 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you very 6 much.7 MR. TERRY: They should consider 8 reorganizing everything. Thank you so much 9 and have a great evening.10 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 11 Frank Scandale?12 MR. SCANDALE: Thank you. It's 13 Frank Scandale. And I'm the editor of The 14 Record. And since I was going to be on the 15 video, I thought I'd come down and see how I 16 was going to look. And I've got some work to 17 do. 18 I can't speak to Channel 9's past. 19 I can only talk about their present 20 commitment to local news. We're based in 21 Hackensack. We serve north Jersey. We are 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 127 dedicated to local news. And earlier this 1 year, we went out seeking partners, electronic 2 partners, and I can say Channel 9, as well as 3 their sister station, Channel 5, reached out 4 immediately and we began to form a 5 partnership, sharing news. 6 Our desks, our news desks and 7 their news desks have regular conversations 8 during the week. We discuss stories. We tell 9 them the most important things we think that 10 they should be covering that they can't get 11 to. As a newspaper, we have over 250 12 journalists working in our newsroom. 13 A lot of electronic media envy 14 that kind of resource. I can tell you, 15 personally, that Lew, earlier, a couple of 16 years ago when he was with Channel 2, reached 17 out to The Record to do the very same thing 18 for Channel 2. So I know from the top, the 19 commitment to do local news and do it well is 20 ingrained in the operation, and down to Steve 21 Linden and his team. 22 NEAL R. GROSS COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. (202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 128 And so I'm just here to say I know 1 it's working. I don't know what's happened in 2 the past. But if I had this opportunity every 3 once in a while to hear my viewers, my readers 4 come out and tell me how passionate they are 5 about what's going on, what they want to hear, 6 what they want to see, I know that the team is 7 taking this to heart. The team is here, 8 they're listening. I know they're going to 9 walk away with a better understanding of what 10 their readers -- what their viewers need. 11 Thank you.12 MODERATOR SIGALOS: Thank you. 13 I'd like to thank all those who commented 14 publicly today. This does conclude the Media 15 Bureau's public forum on the WWOR-TV license 16 renewal. Thank you for your attendance and 17 your participation.18 (Off the record.)19 20 21 22