FCC Rules On Farm Journal Petition Regarding RFD

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today granted Farm Journal Media’s November 2005 Petition for Declaratory Ruling against RFD Communications, Inc. (RFD). The FCC concluded that RFD, in acting like a commercial enterprise, does not meet the criteria to be classified as a non-commercial educational programmer for FCC purposes. As a result, RFD’s commercial programming disqualifies the channel from carriage on the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) channels set aside by Congress for the exclusive use of noncommercial entities.

“RFD-TV is acting like a commercial enterprise instead of a noncommercial entity with an educational mission. … Nor do we expect noncommercial entities with an educational mission to engage in this type of inherently commercial activity.”

The FCC’s Ruling credited much of the evidence that Farm Journal submitted with its November 2005 Petition and the comments that numerous third parties filed with the FCC earlier this year. Much of the material in the record before the FCC focused on the close relationship between RFD-TV and Superior Auctions, a for-profit livestock auction company. After reviewing the evidence, the FCC rejected RFD-TV’s defenses. Instead, it concluded that “RFD-TV is acting like a commercial enterprise instead of a noncommercial entity with an educational mission. … Nor do we expect noncommercial entities with an educational mission to engage in this type of inherently commercial activity.”

The FCC today did not address evidence in the record of RFD-TV’s broadcast of commercial advertisements for for-profit companies. The FCC, however, concluded with, “We recognize the seriousness of these allegations, … and emphasize that we may address these issues at a later date.”

Today’s FCC decision, along with the original Petition and all comments, are public documents. They may be viewed at http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi. The Docket is identified as Proceeding 06-92

About FARM JOURNAL MEDIA

Farm Journal Media is the nation’s leading agricultural media company. Its magazines include the 128-year-old flagship FARM JOURNAL, as well as TOP PRODUCER, BEEF TODAY, DAIRY TODAY, ELITE PRODUCER and BEEF BUSINESS JOURNAL. The Company’s broadcast division, Farm Journal Electronic Media, includes the AgDay and U.S. Farm Report television programs along with In the Country, a daily syndicated news vignette. The Company’s Internet portal, “The Homepage of Agriculture,” is AgWeb.com. Farm Journal Media also publishes several subscription-based publications including the Pro Farmer and LandOwner newsletters. Annual live events and conferences include the Top Producer Seminar, Leading Edge Seminar, Farm Journal Forum, Elite Producer Dairy Conference and Pro Farmer’s Midwest Crop Tour. The Database Strategies division provides extensive database and data management services based upon the Company’s producer/industry market intelligence.