Fw: now-action-list Tell the FCC to Halt Media Consolidation

[Guest guest]

Please write your letters to the FCC and send a copy to Kim Gandy, National

President, NOW

----- Original Message -----

From: " National Organization for Women " <now@...>

<now-action-list@...>

Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 1:11 PM

Subject: now-action-list Tell the FCC to Halt Media Consolidation

> Please feel free to forward the following to activists:

>

> From the National Organization for Women Action Center:

>

> Feminists Must Speak Out Against Loss of Media Diversity

>

> Imagine the newspaper that you read, the TV shows you watch, the music and

> traffic reports you listen to on the radio, even the web sites you visit

> all coming to you from just one or two sources. Soon information and news

> in the U.S. may be controlled by forces even larger and more powerful than

> those that already exist.

>

> That's why NOW is endorsing and participating in a protest Friday, March

> 22, at 3 p.m. outside the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where

we

> will demand that the FCC halt further media consolidation and act to

> preserve the openness and diversity of the Internet. The demonstration is

> being organized by a coalition of media democracy, women's rights and

other

> civil rights organizations. NOW's Membership Vice President Terry O'Neill,

> who will be among the speakers, states: " The FCC must hear from the

people.

> We are speaking out against the media merger free-for-all that is

> threatening to rob us all of the independent voices, views and ideas that

> nourish a pluralistic, democratic society. "

>

> Giant corporations are gobbling up as many media outlets--TV stations,

> cable systems, newspapers and radio stations--as they can swallow. In

their

> race for media dominance, these companies are squeezing out what little

> diversity remains in the marketplace. And the FCC, which is supposed to

> ensure that broadcasters " serve the public interest, " is more than happy

to

> lend them a hand.

>

> Under the direction of FCC Chair (promoted to his new

> position by W. Bush), the government agency is embracing big

> business, which is eager to leave the interests of the public and local

> communities in the dust. The FCC now appears to be headed down the path of

> relaxing or eliminating the last few regulations governing media

ownership.

> In addition, is presiding over the FCC at a very critical time for

> the Internet, and again he is taking his cues largely from the industry

> giants that will control Internet access.

>

> Here's where the current media regulations stand:

>

> 1. Just last week the FCC approved a policy that excuses cable operators

> from any obligation to provide non-discriminatory access to broadband

> Internet. This means that consumers will have to choose from a small

number

> of Internet service providers determined by the cable owners.

>

> 2. Last month an appeals court overturned the rule that prevents one

> company from owning both television stations and cable systems in a single

> market. The FCC can challenge the decision, but that is unlikely.

>

> 3. The same court told the FCC that it hasn't provided ample justification

> for the regulation which prevents one single broadcaster from owning TV

> stations that together reach more than 35 percent of U.S. homes. The FCC

> can now choose to repeal the rule, modify it or attempt to justify its

> necessity.

>

> 4. Last year an appeals court voided the restriction on one cable provider

> serving more than 30 percent of all U.S. subscribers. The FCC must now

> clarify the reasoning for the rule, or the agency can choose to raise the

> cap to a higher percentage or scrap the rule entirely.

>

> 5. The rule that says one company cannot own both a TV station and a

> newspaper in the same market is under review. The FCC has finished

> collecting comments and a decision is expected by the fall.

>

> 6. The rule prohibiting one company from owning two TV stations in a

single

> market (unless there are at least eight separately owned media outlets in

> the market) may also come under review, although exceptions to this rule

> have already been made in the past.

>

> 7. The FCC is also looking at the rule governing ownership of multiple

> local radio stations in a single market and another restriction on the

> ownership of both local radio stations and TV stations in a single market.

>

> With the above regulations out of the way, what's to keep rich

> conglomerates from scooping up the last independently-owned media outlets?

>

> " The media are more than just a business; they bring information to people

> that affects their lives, " says O'Neill. " We cannot have a healthy

> democracy, and women cannot pursue equal rights, if we are uninformed on

> the issues. The media have a responsibility to serve the public interest

> and ensure that all voices are heard. "

>

> The protest will take place on Friday, March 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. at 445

> 12th Street NW, Washington, D.C. Come stand up for media democracy--women

> cannot continue to make progress without it. If you do not live in the

D.C.

> area or cannot attend the action, please click on the following link to

> send a letter to the FCC:

>

> http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=117150 & type=AN

>

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>

> Visit our Legislative Action Center at http://www.now.org/congress