Floridians To FCC: Protect Media Ownership Limits

SPEAKING UP FOR THE PUBLIC—Florida PIRG Legislative Advocate Brad Ashwell testifies before Federal Communications Commissioners at an official public hearing in Tampa, the fourth of six hearings around the country to collect public comments on the FCC’s proposed changes to media ownership rules.

On April 30, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held a public hearing in Tampa to discuss sweeping changes to the nation’s media ownership rules. This public hearing was the fourth of only six national events being held across the country by the FCC.

Florida PIRG and allies were there to speak up for the public interest.

Media Monopoly
The FCC is currently reviewing long-standing media ownership rules that for years have prevented one company from controlling too much of the news and information of a particular region.

These rules govern the number of television and radio stations a company can own in one area and prohibit one company from owning a television or radio station as well as the major daily newspaper in the same media market.

“More media consolidation means that just a few corporations will control the vast amount of what you see on television, read in the newspaper and hear on the radio. That’s bad news for American democracy, for arts and culture, and for the free exchange of ideas,” said Consumer Union’s Joel Kelsey.

As media outlets continue to merge, investigative reporting and insightful issue discourse are on the decline, and news coverage seems to be increasingly focused on celebrity gossip rather than profound issues that affect our every day reality. As media companies consolidate, they increase their ability to undermine and, in some cases, overrule the independence of local station programmers, content providers and editors.

In 2003, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin joined then-Chairman Michael Powell in voting to seriously weaken media ownership rules. In response, millions of people contacted the FCC and Congress to oppose the changes.

Public Opposition
The U.S. Senate voted to overturn the industry-friendly rules, which were later tossed out in federal court, sending the FCC back to the drawing board.

The court decision indicates that Powell had failed to fully consider public opinion on these decisions, which will directly impact local communities.

Throughout April, Florida PIRG worked with Freepress, Consumers Union and a long list of local groups like WMNF community radio, public access television supporters, and the Tampa Educational Cable Consortium to conduct workshops and make sure the community turned out to the public hearing. Roughly 400 people attended the event and over 00 of them testified before the commission during the eight-hour hearing, letting the FCC know their desire for more diverse and locally-oriented media, not looser rules and further consolidation.