BROADCASTING

The Federal Communications Commission proposes using a random lottery to grant radio and television licenses, but a media watchdog group isn’t buying the idea. The Washington-based Media Access Project advocacy group says the lottery proposal is “an outrageous, last-ditch effort to substitute a roll of the dice for government officials defining and implementing the public interest.” Under the present comparative system, would-be owners must prove their worthiness to hold a broadcast license. Commissioners feel it’s slow, costly and not guaranteed to determine the best applicant. FCC Chairman Dennis R. Patrick said the lottery is “faster . . . arguably more equitable.” The media watchdog group, however, maintains that the commission is abdicating its decision-making responsibility and closing what has been a means of access by minorities and women to broadcast ownership. The FCC’s response: The lottery process would be less costly to applicants, and therefore “would lower entry barriers and encourage newcomers to enter the broadcast industry.”