"If there's ever been a show that screamed noncommercial television, it's this one," said Bill Hanley, the executive vice president for content at KTCA in St. Paul.

Should future decisions maintain or eliminate these provisions, or those for noncommercial television and radio?

In general, how, if at all, should noncommercial television and radio licenses change to meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital era?

The tendency in recent years has been for public broadcasters to carry ever more expansive commercials, which go smack against the rationale for what in more wishful times was known as noncommercial television.

For noncommercial television, this series has a conspicuously businesslike side.

The envy frequently professed by network stars for people lucky enough to work in noncommercial television is as inspiring as ever.

This commission was created to research the role noncommercial educational television played on society in America.

Ordinarily I watch noncommercial television, if anything.

But superb programs are not the monopoly of noncommercial television in Britain; they have as often been produced by the 16 commercial companies that make up the tightly regulated independent ITV network.

Now, in this job, I am trying to preserve free noncommercial television.