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Sen. John McCain today introduced the "Localism in Broadcasting Act of 2005," which would cut all broadcast station license terms from eight years to three years and would require stations to file quarterly reports detailing their community service and public interest service efforts. The legislation would also require the full five-member FCC to review 5% of all license and renewal applications and would direct stations with websites to post on their sites details about their public affairs programming. Additionally, companies owning more than one station must demonstrate how all of their stations -- not just the station up for license renewal -- are meeting their public interest obligations. "I feel it is now time to introduce legislation to bring local back into local broadcasting, and I believe this legislation is a step in the right direction," McCain said. "It will have a small impact on those stations that are currently meeting their public interest obligations, but it should have a large impact on those citizens whose local broadcaster is not meeting its obligation to serve the local community." The bill comes following a study released today by McCain that criticizes the television industry's coverage of the 2004 elections.
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