<nettime> [Fwd: National campaign for FCC hearings launched]

[Sasha Costanza-Chock <schock@riseup.net>]

Press Release
June 25, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Josh Silver
413-585-1533 ext. 21


National Campaign Announced Calling For FCC Hearings in Every State

Group Cites Statements from FCC Commissioners Copps
and Adelstein Calling for Hearings Across the Country

(Washington) In the wake of a federal court's dramatic rejection of the 
FCC's decision to loosen media ownership restrictions, public interest 
advocate Free Press is launching a national effort to gather 500,000 
signatures demanding that the FCC hold public hearings in every state 
before rewriting the controversial rules. The court told the FCC and the 
Bush White House that the process used to loosen the media ownership 
limits was "hopelessly flawed."

Americans cite decreasing diversity and localism in journalism and 
increased commercialism as reasons for their opposition to Big Media. 
Coverage of issues like the Iraq war and Enron, and the media's 
obsession with celebrities, are also cited. Massive public outcry 
opposing last year's rule changes - from liberals and conservatives 
alike - is credited with several votes in Congress - including one this 
week - to roll back the rules.

Reacting to the court decision, FCC Commissioner Copps, who voted 
against loosening the caps, said, "I call upon the Commission to 
schedule a series of hearings across the country designed to give 
citizens true access to the decision makers at the Agency, and seek to 
gain a better understanding of the impact of media concentration on our 
communities." Commissioner Adelstein echoed that message in his 
statements as well.

"We call on every American who wants more voices and opinions on the 
airwaves to add their name to the Free Press petition" said Free Press 
managing director Josh Silver. "The FCC has been given the opportunity 
to start over. The question is, will big media lobbyists continue to 
make media policy behind closed doors, or will the American people 
reclaim their media system?"

The campaign is at http://www.freepress.net/rules

Free Press is a national non-partisan organization that seeks to 
increase informed public participation in media policy and to promote a 
more competitive, public interest-oriented media system. www.freepress.net

###

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