REC Networks Advocacy Objectives
REC Networks provides a certain level of regulatory advocacy where it comes to the Federal Communications Commission, mainly along the lines of broadcast and non-broadcast radio services. Our main goal is to promote free speech and to assure that all groups with all opinions, regardless of how "popular" their opinion is, has a fair chance to access spectrum as long as they do so fairly.
REC is secular but at the same time, recognizes the free speech rights of faith-based organizations, both those in majority and minority religions.
REC is apolitical. We do not have a conservative agenda nor do we have a liberal agenda. Where politics may come into play, we try to view issues from both a conservative and liberal agenda and then balance them out in a centrist manner. This may include at times, presenting different potential outcomes based on the outcomes of elections. Our dual presentations should not be construed as an endorsement of a specific idealogy, but instead, seeing things from two different extreme perspectives.
Our only agenda is common sense and sometimes, the common sense solution may lean further in the direction on one of the two primary poltiical ideaoligies.
REC is not a lobbyist nor do we intend to be one. Our interfacing with the Legislative Branch is very limited. We do most of our regulatory advocacy work at the agency level (the FCC, NTIA, FEMA, FAA, etc.).
When proposing regulation or when considering proposed regulation, we look at it using the following objectives:
Citizen's Access To Spectrum
REC's longest running objective is assuring that spectrum is available and opportunities exist for private citizens as well as small organizations (non-profit and commercial) in both the broadcast and non-broadcast disciplines. REC is best known for our advocacy in the Low Power FM (LPFM) broadcast service, but we also work with full-service broadcasting, other radio broadcast services such as FM Translators and FM Boosters. REC's involvement in television is limited to high level policy issues, especially if they have any kind of a remote implication to radio broadcasting. REC also involves itself in non-broadcast service issues such as the Amateur Radio Service, Personal Radio Services (CB, GMRS, MURS, FRS), broadband access and other subjects in the FCC's jurisdiction
In the broadcast sector, our support is focused on "small stations" or for that matter "small broadcasters". We consider a small broadcaster to be an entity that has aggregated revenues of less than $100,000 annually from donations, underwriting, advertising or from ancilliary services.
Keeping Radio Relevant
Keeping Radio Relevant means that in this modern culture of evolving competing technologies, that radio still has a place in the minds of listeners and on the dashboards of cars. Radio can remain relevant through compelling content and technology and assuring that radio remains a unique place for content tailored for the community.
More Choices and More Voices
Radio is still the greatest “app” ever made. You only need a radio receiver and there is no broadband subscription needed. In order for radio to remain successful and relevant, there needs to be a wider choice of programming available from a wider array of program providers.
Improving the Rural Quality of Life
Bring rural ourselves, one of REC’s objectives is to promote spectrum and other initiatives that will help improve services in rural areas thus improving the quality of life.
Promoting Emergency Alerting at the Small Station Level
REC is a supporter of emergency alerting and radio’s role in it. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) must remain resilient and reliable. Regulatory decisions must take into consideration the many independently owned small stations that may struggle financially to remain compliant.
Digital Equity
Digital Equity in the eyes of REC’s objectives is to assure that as many different types of groups are represented in radio, not just on the air, but in the boardroom and reflected in the programming on the radio as well as encouraging diverse participation in other non-broadcast spectrum services. Our perception of equity is to asssure that majority and minority populations are treated equally and have the same opportunities.
Digital Equity is more than just race and gender, but also includes religion (including non-Christian faiths as well as those who choose not to practice religion), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, preference of spoken language, socioeconomic status, disability (physical and otherwise), age and other similar demographic factors.
