April 9, 2008

TRUTH BRIGADE ISSUES TEAM

STOP CROSS-OWNERSHIP OF TELEVISION AND NEWSPAPERS

ACTION

Call or send an e-mail to Senator George Voinovich asking him to vote for:

S. J. RES. 28: Disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast media ownership.

Call or send an e-mail to Senator Sherrod Brown thanking him for co-sponsoring this resolution.

Contact Information

Sherrod Brown http://brown.senate.gov/contact/

George Voinovich http://voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

THE ISSUE

The FCC has long maintained that a television station and a newspaper in the same community should not be owned by the same individual. Such cross-ownership restricts the breadth of news coverage and the number of voices and opinions available in the news in that area. It places entirely too much power in the hands in too few people to influence public opinion.

In December the Federal Communications Commission dropped that long-standing regulation. They did so in the face of overwhelming and strenuous objection from the two Democrats on the FCC and from the public. They did so at a lightening pace despite pleas to slow down the process and allow the public to voice their objections. In fact, some evidence has been found to show that the chair of the FCC, Kevin Martin, had decided to press for passage of this rule change even before the public hearings were scheduled.

The proposal met with fierce opposition in December of 2007 when it was passed by the FCC, but in February of 2008, when the details of the new rules were exposed, they were even worse than expected. The new rules could mean that nearly half of U. S. citizens would receive their news and information from newspapers and television stations in their communities that are owned by the same individual.

Senator Byron Dorgan, Democrat from North Dakota, has sponsored a Senate Joint Resolution disapproving of that rule change.

Senator Sherrod Brown, Senators Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama are all co-sponsors of that resolution.

Senator George Voinovich has voiced his concern about the rules change. In fact, his home city, Cleveland, is in one of the markets that would be worst affected by this FCC rules change.

TALKING POINTS

We the people want smaller, more independent, more locally-oriented media outlets. Corporate media are not able to serve the needs of our communities.

"Our nation is best served when we have access to a variety of media sources. Smaller and independent media outlets across the country provide local news that simply would not exist if large media conglomerates continue their consolidation efforts." Byron Dorga

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Read what Senator Byron Dorgan says about these rules changes. http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003720874

"The FCC says this is a modest compromise, but make no mistake, this is a big deal." Senator Byron Dorgan.

Read about Representative John Dingell’s investigation into the operations of the FCC.

http://www.adweek.com/aw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003680689

"When more than 80 percent of complaints investigated by the FCC are closed without any meaningful enforcement action, and it isn't possible to determine why no action was taken, then it appears that the FCC has abdicated its duty to protect consumers," Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich.

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