Media Ownership

In their coverage of the impending digital TV conversion, the media has been ignoring the fact that the corporate media has a lock on any new channels that will emerge from the changeover. And Massachusetts has a new broadband bill that will bring high-speed broadband to rural areas.

If you or your constituents want to be part of the fight to stop Big Media, the clock is ticking.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin plans to call a vote at the FCC's monthly meeting tomorrow on his proposal to allow more media consolidation. Hundreds of national, state, and local organizations are mobilizing to turn up the heat on Martin to cancel the vote and establish a fair process for public input. We need to deal with crucial issues of localism and minority media ownership before considering any new rules.

But Martin seems to be done listening to the public, so our main pressure point right now is the Senate's bipartisan Media Ownership Act of 2007 (S. 2332).

Media Minutes: September 14, 2007
The FCC is holding a public hearing on media ownership in Chicago on Sept. 20, and local organizers are busy educating the public about the issues. And public access television stations across the country are gearing up for local elections.