FCC open meeting in Monterey
Corporate Media and Local Interests / Downsizing the monster
The issue is whether a few large conglomerates will be ceded content control over our music, entertainment and information; gatekeeper control over the civic and political dialogue of our country; and veto power over the majority of what we and our families watch, hear and read. Rather than learn the lessons of radio concentration, the FCC plunged ahead and voted to visit a policy of “Clear Channelization” on the rest of our media.
FCC member Michael J. Copps seems to have the right perspective when it comes to media concentration. The thing I question is, since 2.3 million (!) people responded to the last rules changes (99.9% against), the Congress has overturned the FCC changes in their entirety, and the US Court of Appeals has weighed in against the changes, why is there a need for ANY public hearings?! The public has spoken loudly and clearly. It’s time for the FCC, supposedly the steward of the public’s airwaves, to listen to the feedback, stop wasting time and regulate the airwaves in a way that doesn’t give monopoly control to a few large corporations. Come on already!
For more information and background, see NOW’s website on Media Consolidation or the Center for Digital Democracy.