Geotargeted Radio Could Hurt Small Stations: Blumenthal, Cardin

Geotargeted radio runs the risk of "upend[ing] the FCC’s broadcast licensing regime, impose[ing] additional costs on broadcasters, harm[ing] local media, and undermine[ing] efforts to support an informed public connected to their community," Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ben Cardin of Maryland wrote FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Monday. They said smaller broadcasters would bear a particular financial burden as advertisers encourage them to adopt such technologies, "shifting scarce funds away from newsrooms and community resources." They said a result of geotargeted radio might be some neighborhoods not receiving ads for employment, educational and economic opportunities. The agency didn't comment.