Press Release
Broad Coalition Mobilizes for FCC Hearing in Tampa
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
TAMPA, Fla. -- On April 30, all five Federal Communications Commissioners will meet face-to-face with the public at a hearing in the Tampa Bay area to discuss sweeping changes to the nation's media ownership rules.
"Big media companies have plenty of opportunities to make their views known in Washington," said Brad Ashwell, legislative advocate for Florida PIRG. "This hearing is the chance for citizens in Florida to finally be heard on the dangers of media consolidation. We're grateful that the FCC chose to visit the Tampa Bay area and encourage citizens from all parts of Florida to participate in this important hearing."
The hearing -- the fourth of six events being held across the country by the FCC -- will feature an "open microphone" session for the public to offer testimony on a first-come, first-served basis. The hearing will begin at 4 p.m. (ET) in the Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
A broad-based coalition of local and national groups is urging its members to attend the hearing and testify about the impacts of media consolidation. They include the Communications Workers of America, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Free Press, Florida AFL-CIO, Florida PIRG, Mid-Atlantic Community Papers Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, The Newspaper Guild, Prometheus Radio Project, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Tampa Bay Community Network, The Tampa Education Channel, United Church of Christ Office of Communication, Inc., and U.S. PIRG.
The FCC is currently reviewing longstanding media ownership rules, including the limits on the number of television and radio stations a company can own in one area and the prohibition on newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership -- which prevents companies from owning a television or radio station and the major daily newspaper in most markets.
"When people want to know what happened at the latest City Council meeting or when the next School Board meeting is, they turn to their local television stations and newspapers," said Joel Kelsey, grassroots coordinator for Consumers Union. "These are by far the most dominant sources of local news and information. By lifting the ban on cross-ownership of television stations and major daily newspapers, the FCC would be allowing the two most competitive sources of local news to merge. Weakening ownership caps undermines any remaining benefits of local competition, limits consumer choice and will make it much harder for localism and diversity to thrive in American media."
In 2003, Martin joined then-Chairman Michael Powell in voting to seriously weaken these same media ownership rules. In response, millions of people contacted the FCC and Congress to oppose the changes. The Senate voted to overturn the rules, which were later tossed out in federal court -- sending the FCC back to the drawing board.
The Tampa event follows official hearings held in Los Angeles on Oct. 3; Nashville on Dec. 11; and Harrisburg, Pa., on Feb. 23. Unofficial hearings, attended by Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, have been held over the past two years in Norfolk, Va.; Asheville, N.C.; Los Angeles; Milwaukee; Austin, Texas; Oakland, Calif.; New York City; Hyde Park, N.Y.; Seattle; and Philadelphia. In March, Commissioner McDowell joined Adelstein and Copps at a hearing in Columbus, Ohio.
"The FCC Hearing will provide a rare opportunity for Tampa's citizens to voice their concerns and actually be heard," said Yolanda Hippensteele, outreach director of Free Press. "Before letting giant media corporations swallow up more local outlets, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and the other commissioners need to hear how these Big Media firms are serving -- or failing to serve -- local communities in Florida."
For more information, visit www.stopbigmedia.com/=tampa
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"Big media companies have plenty of opportunities to make their views known in Washington," said Brad Ashwell, legislative advocate for Florida PIRG. "This hearing is the chance for citizens in Florida to finally be heard on the dangers of media consolidation. We're grateful that the FCC chose to visit the Tampa Bay area and encourage citizens from all parts of Florida to participate in this important hearing."
The hearing -- the fourth of six events being held across the country by the FCC -- will feature an "open microphone" session for the public to offer testimony on a first-come, first-served basis. The hearing will begin at 4 p.m. (ET) in the Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
A broad-based coalition of local and national groups is urging its members to attend the hearing and testify about the impacts of media consolidation. They include the Communications Workers of America, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Free Press, Florida AFL-CIO, Florida PIRG, Mid-Atlantic Community Papers Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, The Newspaper Guild, Prometheus Radio Project, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Tampa Bay Community Network, The Tampa Education Channel, United Church of Christ Office of Communication, Inc., and U.S. PIRG.
The FCC is currently reviewing longstanding media ownership rules, including the limits on the number of television and radio stations a company can own in one area and the prohibition on newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership -- which prevents companies from owning a television or radio station and the major daily newspaper in most markets.
"When people want to know what happened at the latest City Council meeting or when the next School Board meeting is, they turn to their local television stations and newspapers," said Joel Kelsey, grassroots coordinator for Consumers Union. "These are by far the most dominant sources of local news and information. By lifting the ban on cross-ownership of television stations and major daily newspapers, the FCC would be allowing the two most competitive sources of local news to merge. Weakening ownership caps undermines any remaining benefits of local competition, limits consumer choice and will make it much harder for localism and diversity to thrive in American media."
In 2003, Martin joined then-Chairman Michael Powell in voting to seriously weaken these same media ownership rules. In response, millions of people contacted the FCC and Congress to oppose the changes. The Senate voted to overturn the rules, which were later tossed out in federal court -- sending the FCC back to the drawing board.
The Tampa event follows official hearings held in Los Angeles on Oct. 3; Nashville on Dec. 11; and Harrisburg, Pa., on Feb. 23. Unofficial hearings, attended by Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, have been held over the past two years in Norfolk, Va.; Asheville, N.C.; Los Angeles; Milwaukee; Austin, Texas; Oakland, Calif.; New York City; Hyde Park, N.Y.; Seattle; and Philadelphia. In March, Commissioner McDowell joined Adelstein and Copps at a hearing in Columbus, Ohio.
"The FCC Hearing will provide a rare opportunity for Tampa's citizens to voice their concerns and actually be heard," said Yolanda Hippensteele, outreach director of Free Press. "Before letting giant media corporations swallow up more local outlets, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and the other commissioners need to hear how these Big Media firms are serving -- or failing to serve -- local communities in Florida."
For more information, visit www.stopbigmedia.com/=tampa
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