Using the Airwaves to Raise Money for Haiti

The National Association of Broadcasters is encouraging stations to use the power of their airwaves to help with the Haitian relief efforts, but if you are a public station be warned that you can’t just do on-air fundraising without FCC approval.

Bruce Theriault, Sr. VP for Radio at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting sent out this message to CPB qualified stations:

The Federal Communications Commission normally does not allow you to use your station’s airwaves to raise money for any cause other than your own operation.  However, the FCC is waving that restriction to allow fundraising for earthquake relief in Haiti.  However, if your station plans to undertake fundraising efforts for Haitian relief you must make a request to the FCC to do so.

 As you consider obtaining a waiver and raising money for those affected by the earthquake in Haiti, please make sure that you work with a reputable relief organization.  Partnering with your local Red Cross Chapter or other organizations that have a track record of providing relief to victims of disasters is highly recommended. 

There’s an established procedure to follow if you want to get FCC approval.  You have to file a request for a waiver from the FCC.  I won’t include the details in this blog post, but you can get them from the FCC or from any CPB station.

For commercial broadcasters, the National Association of Broadcasters is encouraging stations to coordinate their efforts:

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is asking stations nationwide to participate in a voluntary initiative aimed at boosting relief efforts by airing Haitian relief public service announcements (PSAs) as often as possible. To culminate these efforts, NAB has designated Monday, February 1, as “Broadcasters for Haiti Day” and is urging stations to “roadblock” specific times of day, dedicating airtime to fundraising relief efforts, telephone banks, radiothons and telethons.

NAB is working closely with the American Red Cross and the Ad Council to distribute important earthquake relief information to stations, including a series of radio and television PSAs featuring First Lady Michelle Obama. The PSAs are available for download on NAB’s public service Web site, http://www.nab.org/am/aspcode/spotcenter/. 

The message comes from Steve Newberry, NAB’s Chairman of the Board, and Gordon H. Smith, President and CEO of the NAB.