COMPLAIN to WBNG-12 and FCC over this PRO-GAS propaganda film on Marcellus Shale! (instructions provided)

PLEASE register a complaint to the FCC and to WBNG!!

Tonight, Sept 14 @ 7pm, (prime time) WBNG broadcast
a propaganda piece for the gas industry.
called "Marcellus Shale Voices",

It was one-sided, and contained misleading and incorrect information.
It was produced by Aaron Price, the producer of Gas Odyssey.

I am certain that it was funded directly or indirectly by the gas industry,
however it was not identified as such.

This is in violation of FCC rules 47 CFR § 73.1212(a)(1) to (2), which states

"When a broadcast station transmits any matter for which money, service, or other valuable consideration is either directly or indirectly paid or promised to, or charged or accepted by such station, the station, at the time of the broadcast, shall announce that such matter is sponsored, paid for, or furnished, either in whole or in part, and by whom or on whose behalf such consideration was supplied" -- Source

Furthermore, it was disguised as a public affairs segment, and parts
were shot in the WBNG studios.

Address your complaints to:

Greg Catlin
General Manager
WBNG-TV
560 Columbia Dr.
Johnson City, NY 13790
(607) 729-8812
wbng@wbngtv.com
Catlin@wbngtv.com

See the suggested script below:

Also, make an informal complaint to the FCC:

Email your complaint in your own words to:
fccinfo@fcc.gov

or call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) during business hours.

Complain to the FCC online:
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form2000.action?form_type=2000E

Here is how to fill out the form:

Fill in your contact info at the top, then fill in the blanks below:

1: Granite Broadcasting / WBNG

2: a) WBNG
b) 12 (second box)

3: --------skip-----------

4 a) : --------skip-----------
b) "Marcellus Shale Voices"
c) 9 14 2010
d) 7 00 pm

5: a) : --------skip-----------
b) : --------skip-----------
c) see suggested script below:

REVISED Suggested script:

Note the 1000 character limit for the online form...

I am appalled by "Marcellus Shale Voices"
which aired tonight on WBNG 9/14/2010.
It was one-sided, and contained misleading and false information.

This was clearly funded by the gas industry,
however the sponsor was not identified in violation
of 47 CFR § 73.1212.

Furthermore, it was disguised as a public affairs show.
Viewers will recognize that it was shot at the WBNG studios
and has the look of a news segment.

Under the 1934 Comm. Act,
Granite Broadcasting has an obligation to serve the public interest.
This program failed to do so.

Shale Gas extraction poses great threats to the water supply
of millions of people in New York, as well as causing harms to
our air, roads, and causing many other quality of life issues,
such as noise and light pollution.

WBNG owes it to this community to give equal airtime to
all of the facts on this critically important issue.

I am urging the FCC to investigate this incident,
and if necessary, issue sanctions to WBNG and Granite Broadcasting.


See also: http://williamahuston.blogspot.com/2010/09/re-fcc-complaint-10-c00246669.html