Archive for March, 2008
Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 by IraFP
A new study released by Penn State’s Institute for Information Policy criticizes the methods used by the FCC to organize their six public hearings on media ownership held throughout 2006-2007.
Though the stated purpose of the hearings was to “fully involve” the public in a re-evaluation of the media ownership rules, Obar & Schejter argue that the FCC’s actions suggest that they had little interest in what the public had to say. This indifference towards the public’s input was made evident not only in the way the events were run, but also by the fact that references to public opinion were almost non-existent in the documentation of the final decision. After reviewing Obar & Schejter’s findings, the hearings (which cost more than $200,000 to run by the way) seem like nothing more than an elaborate public relations campaign – a dog and pony show put on to create the illusion that the FCC was interested in the public’s opinion.
Every minute of the six hearings was reviewed (44 plus hours), as well as the FCC’s Report & Order.
Study Findings
- For 3 of the 6 hearings, time/location details were released only a week prior.
- All hearings started during prime working hours (9am in Harrisburg, PA), and required individuals to arrive hours beforehand to sign up.
- 2 hearings devoted more time to non-public comment than to public comment, with two other hearings devoting more than 40% to non-public comment.
- Members of the public had 2 minutes each (some in Tampa and Chicago had only 90 seconds each). Everyone else was allowed 5 plus minutes each.
- The FCC often interrupted the public for comments by more “important” people (dignitaries, etc.) who dropped-in at their convenience.
- A quarter of the individuals that signed up to testify went home before their names were called.
- Two hearings (Los Angeles and Harrisburg) were ended before all individuals signed up to testify could be heard.
Once the public finally had their chance to speak, only 1.4 percent spoke in support of further media consolidation/deregulation. The final Report & Order epitomizes the FCC’s indifference towards the public’s input as hardly any references are made to public comments from the hearings, even though the hearings themselves are highlighted in the report as a groundbreaking element in the rulemaking process.
Read more about this new study at the Free Press Action Network.
No Comments »
Thursday, March 13th, 2008 by jstearns
The FCC Is in the Hot Seat
Last week, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a “resolution of disapproval” – a bill that would nullify the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to gut media ownership rules. The bill already has nearly 20 co-sponsors.
Yesterday, Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.), Joe Barton (R-Texas), Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), and John Shimkus (R-Ill.) sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, stepping up their investigation of the agency’s ability to protect and manage the public’s airwaves.
Citing credible sources within the agency – including both current and former staff – the representatives suggest that there have been management and procedural problems at the FCC that have led to “waste, abuse, and fraud.” In the letter, the representatives call for whistleblowers to step forward and offer an anonymous contact form where allegations can be submitted.
Today, Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) introduced the House version of the “resolution of disapproval.” This companion to the Senate bill is a signal that both chambers of Congress are ready to step up to overturn the FCC’s big handout to Big Media.
“We need to use every tool available to prevent further weakening of media-ownership rules,” said Inslee. Reichert added: “While I respect the free market, I believe it is a role of government to stand between corporations and consumers when the public interest is at stake. We want local media to remain local, diverse and free.”
The FCC is also facing a number of lawsuits related to their decision to lift the 30-year-old cross-ownership ban that stops one company from owning the major daily newspaper and a broadcast station in the same community. A similar lawsuit in 2003 ultimately overturned the FCC’s previous attempt to dismantle media ownership rules. This week, a panel of judges announced that all these lawsuits would be rolled into one hearing in San Francisco later this year.
Citizens Are Turning Up the Heat
Pressure is mounting against the FCC because of the way it has handled media ownership; for its refusal to address the crisis in female and minority ownership; and for its flawed and biased process that consistently serves Wall Street instead of Main Street.
More than 500,000 letters already have been sent to Congress and the FCC calling for a more local, diverse, and competitive media. At public hearings across the country last year in places as diverse as Portland, Maine, Chicago and Seattle, thousands of people came out to ask the FCC to stop media consolidation.
Hundreds of citizens visited their lawmakers’ hometown offices, asking them to protect local news, support regional music, and stop Big Media. All of this citizen activism has created incredible momentum for change.
For too long decisions about media policy have been made behind closed doors, and the only people who got a say were corporate lobbyists and Big Media executives. Now the American public is stepping up to defend their communities from further consolidation and demand better media for all.
But we have to keep the pressure on to hold the FCC accountable and make sure our policymakers hear from as many people as possible.
You can take action here or ask a friend to join the fight here.
Let’s build the movement and keep the momentum going.
No Comments »
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 by jstearns
Today, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) introduced a “Resolution of Disapproval” (SJ Res. 28) that would overturn media ownership rules approved by the Federal Communications Commission last December. Sen. Dorgan joined public interest groups on a national conference call today to discuss the new legislation.
Listen to the call: http://www.freepress.net/docs/38209050.mp3
 Sen. Byron Dorgan Speaks Out Against Big Media |
Speakers included:
- Sen. Byron Dorgan
- Josh Silver, Free Press
- Tim Winter, Parents Television Council
- Alex Nogales, National Hispanic Media Coalition
- Mark Lloyd, Leadership Council on Civil Rights
- Ryan Williams, National Association of Black Journalists
- Kim Gandy, National Organization of Women (NOW)
- Hannah Sassaman, Prometheus Radio Project
“The American public has resoundingly rejected more media consolidation,” Silver said. “The FCC wouldn’t listen, but Congress can still stop this massive giveaway. Whether you’re on the left or the right, Republican or Democrat, you know the last thing we need is for our local news to be swallowed up by the same few companies who already own too much.”
Dorgan’s bipartisan resolution has already attracted 14 co-sponsors: Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), as well as Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Joe Biden (D-Del.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). UPDATE: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) has also signed on to the bill.
The Senate has 60 legislative days – which would likely be June – to take action on the FCC’s rules. This all the more reason for you to take action right now!
Take action: https://secure.freepress.net/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=243
Read the FCC’s cross-ownership order: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-216A1.pdf
Learn more about the FCC’s new rules: http://www.stopbigmedia.com/files/devil_in_the_details.pdf
No Comments »
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 by jstearns
This morning Sen. Byron Dorgan introduced a bill (SJ Res. 28) in the Senate that would overturn the FCC’s disastrous December vote to gut media ownership rules. But there is a catch. The bill will expire unless it is passed in 60 legislative days.
So the clock is ticking – we have to act now to protect our communities from a massive new wave of media consolidation.
Take action now or read on to find out more about this important new bill.
Déjà Vu All Over Again
In the days and weeks before the FCC dismantled the 30-year-old rule that prevented one company from owning the major newspaper and a radio or TV station in one town, Commissioner Michael Copps noted that it felt like “Déjà vu all over again.”
In 2003, when the FCC tried to do away with all media ownership rules, nearly 3 million people took action, writing their members of Congress, telling their friends and organizing their communities to speak out on this important issue. With that kind of momentum, lawmakers had no choice but to listen. The Senate voted to overturn the FCC decision, before the courts tossed them out altogether.
“The situation isn’t going to repair itself,” proclaimed Commissioner Copps on the day of the FCC vote last December. “Big media is not going to repair it. This Commission is not going to repair it. But the people, their elected representatives, and attentive courts can repair it. Last time the Commission went down this road, the majority heard and felt the outrage of millions of citizens and Congress and then the court. … Last time a lot of insiders were surprised by the country’s reaction. This time they should be forewarned.”
Time for Action
In just one week after the FCC vote more than 200,000 people signed on to an open letter to Congress calling on them to overturn the FCC’s holiday handout to Big Media. Now with a bill in the Senate, we need to build the momentum and turn up the heat on our policy makers.
A bipartisan group of 26 senators wrote a letter to the FCC in December vowing to “immediately move legislation that will revoke and nullify the proposed rule” and now is their chance to follow through on that promise.
Here’s what we need to do:
- We need every person who signed on to the open letter in 2007 to write their Senators again asking them to support to Senator Dorgan’s “resolution of disapproval.”
- Spread the word. We need all of you to talk with five of your friends or neighbors and get them to take action as well. If all 200,000 people can get just five other people to take action, we’ll get a million letters into the Senate.
There has never been a more important time to take a stand for quality journalism, strong local news, and diverse and independent voices. Can you help us fight for a better media in America?
Take Action Online Here:
https://secure.freepress.net/site/Advocacy?id=243&pagename=homepage
Send a Message to a Friend Here:
http://free.convio.net/site/Ecard?ecard_id=1109
Then join others from around the country at the Free Press Action Network to talk about other ideas to make your voice heard and get the word out in your community. The discussion is going on now at www.freepress.net/action.
2 Comments »
