Press Release
FCC Faces Tampa at Fourth Official Hearing on Media Consolidation
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
TAMPA, Fla. -- A diverse coalition of local and national groups is urging the public to attend the Federal Communications Commission's fourth official hearing on sweeping changes to the nation's ownership rules.
The FCC public hearing will take place:
Monday, April 30
4 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall
1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place
Tampa, Fla.
All five FCC Commissioners are expected to attend the hearing. The event will feature an "open microphone" session for the public to offer testimony on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the hearing and details on free public workshops, visit http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=tampa.
The following people are available to comment on the event:
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., Founder, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
"Minority participation in America media today is grim. Nationally, people of color make up 33 percent of the U.S. population but own only 3.3 percent of all television stations. While ownership by people of color and women has increased in other industries, the percentage in the broadcast industry has worsened. In short, too few, own too much, at the expense of too many."
Thomas F. Lee, President, American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada
"It's appropriate that one of the FCC hearings on media consolidation be held in Tampa, where large conglomerates such as Media General and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation dominate the TV market. These media giants limit the kind of diverse and artistic programming communities need and that makes local radio so unique. They also sharply limit the opportunities for local artists to be on the air. We are pleased that the FCC is continuing to hold these hearings to address these issues and are hopeful that the FCC will carefully consider its proposed ownership rule changes."
Linda Foley, President, The Newspaper Guild-CWA
"When the local newspaper owns a major local broadcast station, efficiency, rather than the public interest, is served. Unfortunately, that means fewer reporters, fewer points of view and less news coverage. Were it not for the St. Petersburg Times, citizens of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area would be at the mercy of Media General and its quest for more efficiency."
Cindy Hall, President, Florida AFL-CIO
"A strong local media that is democratic and accountable to the people is critical for working families to tell their stories so that they can work together to build stronger, healthier communities. We are losing these media at an alarming rate as they are replaced by outlets controlled by giant companies with no connections to the community and whose only commitment is to a bigger profit margin, not to the people they purport to serve. We need the FCC to reverse this trend and enact policies that reign in these big companies and encourage the development of real community media. The future of our communities and our democracy as a whole is at stake."
Tony Fransetta, President, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
"Our nation's airwaves are a moral responsibility and a public trust. Maintaining a license for a broadcast spectrum is a privilege, not a right. Why increase the existing monopoly? Local media works best when it provides information and stories about local people, places and things of interest to the community it serves."
Dianne Wheatley Giliotti, President, League of Women Voters of Florida
"The League of Women Voters has long been an advocate for openness in government at all levels. This includes promoting an open governmental system that is representative, accountable and responsive, which assures opportunities for public participation and a citizen's right to know. The FCC is to be commended for holding nationwide hearings on media ownership. Inasmuch as an informed electorate is the bedrock of a healthy democracy, consolidation in this diverse industry might limit a citizen's right to know."
Brad Ashwell, Legislative Advocate, Florida PIRG
"Florida is one of the most ethnically diverse states in the United States. Our media system has to be able to respond to a variety of issues and serve a myriad of citizens. We need a locally owned media system that reflects the state's unique needs. 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."
Ben Wilcox, Executive Director, Common Cause Florida
"If Floridians lose access to views and news, media moguls may grow richer but our democracy will be poorer. America's democracy works best when citizens have access to a wide diversity of views and plenty of local news. These are two of our nation's most important media policy goals."
Jim Haigh, Mid-Atlantic Community Papers Association
"Our nation's airwaves are a public trust. Maintaining a license for broadcast spectrum is a privilege, not a right. Community interests take precedent over pure profit. Monopolistic media concentration will further transform our airwaves from a vital public resource into an exclusive tool for a handful of corporations. This hammer will smash competition and muzzle local voices."
Joel Kelsey, Grassroots Coordinator, Consumers Union
"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. 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."
Yolanda Hippensteele, Outreach Director, Free Press
"The FCC Hearing will provide a rare opportunity for Tampa's citizens to voice their concerns and actually be heard. 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."
The FCC public hearing will take place:
Monday, April 30
4 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall
1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place
Tampa, Fla.
All five FCC Commissioners are expected to attend the hearing. The event will feature an "open microphone" session for the public to offer testimony on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the hearing and details on free public workshops, visit http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=tampa.
The following people are available to comment on the event:
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., Founder, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
"Minority participation in America media today is grim. Nationally, people of color make up 33 percent of the U.S. population but own only 3.3 percent of all television stations. While ownership by people of color and women has increased in other industries, the percentage in the broadcast industry has worsened. In short, too few, own too much, at the expense of too many."
Thomas F. Lee, President, American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada
"It's appropriate that one of the FCC hearings on media consolidation be held in Tampa, where large conglomerates such as Media General and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation dominate the TV market. These media giants limit the kind of diverse and artistic programming communities need and that makes local radio so unique. They also sharply limit the opportunities for local artists to be on the air. We are pleased that the FCC is continuing to hold these hearings to address these issues and are hopeful that the FCC will carefully consider its proposed ownership rule changes."
Linda Foley, President, The Newspaper Guild-CWA
"When the local newspaper owns a major local broadcast station, efficiency, rather than the public interest, is served. Unfortunately, that means fewer reporters, fewer points of view and less news coverage. Were it not for the St. Petersburg Times, citizens of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area would be at the mercy of Media General and its quest for more efficiency."
Cindy Hall, President, Florida AFL-CIO
"A strong local media that is democratic and accountable to the people is critical for working families to tell their stories so that they can work together to build stronger, healthier communities. We are losing these media at an alarming rate as they are replaced by outlets controlled by giant companies with no connections to the community and whose only commitment is to a bigger profit margin, not to the people they purport to serve. We need the FCC to reverse this trend and enact policies that reign in these big companies and encourage the development of real community media. The future of our communities and our democracy as a whole is at stake."
Tony Fransetta, President, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans
"Our nation's airwaves are a moral responsibility and a public trust. Maintaining a license for a broadcast spectrum is a privilege, not a right. Why increase the existing monopoly? Local media works best when it provides information and stories about local people, places and things of interest to the community it serves."
Dianne Wheatley Giliotti, President, League of Women Voters of Florida
"The League of Women Voters has long been an advocate for openness in government at all levels. This includes promoting an open governmental system that is representative, accountable and responsive, which assures opportunities for public participation and a citizen's right to know. The FCC is to be commended for holding nationwide hearings on media ownership. Inasmuch as an informed electorate is the bedrock of a healthy democracy, consolidation in this diverse industry might limit a citizen's right to know."
Brad Ashwell, Legislative Advocate, Florida PIRG
"Florida is one of the most ethnically diverse states in the United States. Our media system has to be able to respond to a variety of issues and serve a myriad of citizens. We need a locally owned media system that reflects the state's unique needs. 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."
Ben Wilcox, Executive Director, Common Cause Florida
"If Floridians lose access to views and news, media moguls may grow richer but our democracy will be poorer. America's democracy works best when citizens have access to a wide diversity of views and plenty of local news. These are two of our nation's most important media policy goals."
Jim Haigh, Mid-Atlantic Community Papers Association
"Our nation's airwaves are a public trust. Maintaining a license for broadcast spectrum is a privilege, not a right. Community interests take precedent over pure profit. Monopolistic media concentration will further transform our airwaves from a vital public resource into an exclusive tool for a handful of corporations. This hammer will smash competition and muzzle local voices."
Joel Kelsey, Grassroots Coordinator, Consumers Union
"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. 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."
Yolanda Hippensteele, Outreach Director, Free Press
"The FCC Hearing will provide a rare opportunity for Tampa's citizens to voice their concerns and actually be heard. 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."
