This one comes from the "you have got to be kidding me" file.

The National Association of Broadcasters has sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission requesting that viewers and listeners who speak at the agency's public hearings on media ownership be required to disclose where they live. NAB says this disclosure is needed to "help ensure that the Commissioners hear from viewers and listeners who actually receive service from stations in the local markets where the hearings are being conducted."

The FCC is planning to hold just six public hearings on media ownership. The third one of those hearing took place today in Harrisburg, Pa. To its credit, the FCC ignored NAB's request.

The vast majority of the nation's television viewers and radio listeners would be effectively banned from commenting at the media ownership hearings if the FCC were to grant the broadcaster association's wish to limit public comments to locals only. Anyone not lucky enough to live in a place picked by the FCC for a hearing has the choice of either taking the time and trouble to travel to one of the FCC's "chosen communities" to offer their views, or to forever hold their peace.

And it isn't as if the FCC's handling of these hearings has been a shining example of democracy at its best. The details of the Harrisburg hearing -- including the time, place and panel participants -- weren't disclosed until late last Friday. That is simply inexcusable.

As for the NAB, we would like to remind that powerful lobbying group that its members make money using free airwaves on loan from the American public.

You can click here to read the NAB letter to the FCC and you can click here to read Free Press's take on this issue.