FCC Commissioner Champions Public Right to Airwaves
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In the current edition of TV Week, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein writes about the first official FCC hearing on media ownership rules, the current media marketplace and the dangers of media consolidation.
On the FCC Hearing in L.A.:
“The public hearing was truly an exercise in American democracy. …[W]hat we heard was heartfelt testimony from many articulate, well-informed Americans from diverse backgrounds on myriad issues. What may upset critics is that only one out of hundreds from the audience encouraged the commission to relax our rules to permit greater media consolidation.”
On media consolidation:
“But can we honestly argue that owning three TV stations, instead of two, in one local market would improve the quality of news and entertainment programming? I think not.”
Adelstein — along with fellow FCC Commissioner Michael Copps — has participated in community-organized hearings on media ownership across the country. Both Commissioners have championed the public right to local and diverse media over corporate interests of expansion.
“Wall Street demands a good return on its media investments. Our job on the FCC is to demand a good return to the public, as well, in exchange for the free use of the airwaves.”
Read FCC Commissioner Adelstein’s article in TV Week.
