Senator Dorgan and Public Interest Groups Vow to Overturn FCC Rule Changes
Posted March 5th, 2008 by Josh Stearns
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
