Res79

We can still stop media consolidation! On May 15, 2008, in a near-unanimous vote, the Senate responded to thousands of phone calls and more than a quarter million letters, and vetoed the Federal Communications Commission's December 2007 decision to let the biggest media companies get even bigger. This win is a reminder of the power of our collective voices to make real change in Washington, D.C. Last December, the FCC voted to remove the "newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership" ban that prohibits one company from owning a broadcast station and the major daily newspaper in the same market. The resolution of disapproval (Senate Joint Resolution 28), introduced by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) in early March, would nullify the FCC's new rules if passed by Congress and signed by the president. This Senate win was a huge step forward for better media in America. However, there is still much to do. The fight against the FCC now moves to the House. The House version of the resolution (H.J. Res. 79) was introduced by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) in March. In the meantime, Free Press and other organizations are working to foster female and minority ownership. Let's stop unnecessary media consolidation. You can help.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Co-sponsor H.J. Res. 79 and overturn the FCC

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Please overturn the Federal Communications Commission's decision to dismantle longstanding media ownership limits. By co-sponsoring the bipartisan resolution of disapproval (H.J. Res. 79) introduced by Reps. Jay Inslee and Dave Reichert, you will be taking a stand with me for quality journalism, local news and competition in the media.

Media consolidation means fewer perspectives and less of the news our communities need. When the FCC voted last December, it ignored nearly universal public opposition to consolidation -- just like it did in 2003, when the Senate voted to overturn similar FCC rule changes.

The FCC's recent decision to let Big Media get even bigger will erode localism, diminish minority ownership and decrease competition.

By an overwhelming majority, the Senate has voted to reject the FCC's action. Please take a similar stand for better media in the House by supporting the resolution of disapproval (H.J. Res. 79).

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 06, 2008

Background Information

In December 2007, the FCC gutted the rules that protect local communities from media monopolies. The rule change is a big handout for Big Media and will let giant corporations get even bigger, gobbling up local news outlets in your town. This is bad for journalism, bad for media diversity, and bad for our democracy.

The rule change lifted the longstanding ban on "newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership," which prevents companies from owning a television or radio station and the major daily newspaper in the same area. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin claims that eliminating the cross-ownership ban -- a vital safeguard that has protected media diversity, competition and localism for more than 30 years -- is meant to ensure the viability of American newspapers. But the proposed rules are nothing more than a massive giveaway to Big Media.

On March 6, Sen. Dorgan introduced a "resolution of disapproval" which would overturn the FCC rule changes. This bill was then unanimously endorsed by the Senate Commerce Committee on April 24. A unique provision in the bill meant that it had to be passed by the Senate within 60 legislative days. On May 15, the full Senate took up the bill and passed it in a near-unanimous vote.

The House of Representatives must take up the bill by the end of the year.

Although Martin wrote an op-ed and issued a press release claiming that the change would only apply to the country's top 20 media markets, the rules include a giant loophole that will open the back door to unchecked media consolidation in nearly every market in America. The rules will make it far easier than ever before to get around the cross-ownership ban.

Martin's rule change will cause serious and lasting damage to our media. It would open the door to a frenzy of media mergers across the country, as the biggest media companies buy and swap properties to establish local and regional dominance. Yet the FCC's own data shows that markets with cross-owned properties have less local news.

The rule change threatens to further diminish media ownership by people of color -- whose stations are the right size and in the markets most likely to be targeted by the media giants. This is yet another example of how the FCC ignores the media diversity crisis.

Martin is ignoring overwhelming opposition from the public and from Congress. At a series of official public hearings and in hundreds of thousands of comments filed with the FCC, the public has spoken out against media consolidation. And both the public and Congress have called upon Martin to shelve his proposed changes until the FCC addresses outstanding concerns about localism and minority ownership.

Read more about this issue at http://www.stopbigmedia.com