PUBLIC FORUM ON FCC MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES Tues, Feb. 18, 2002 - 9 am - 5 pm at USC's Davidson Conference Center in Los Angeles SAVE THE DATE! SPREAD THE WORD! The FCC (Federal Communications Commission), under the leadership of Michael Powell, has been contemplating the elimination of all remaining media ownership limits, clearing the way for even more media consolidation. Powell claims that there is little evidence that the current rules serve the public interest. The good news is that Congressional and public pressure against this is building. Over the past few months the FCC took public comment on this issue and received an unprecedented number of letters and email messages from the public, media outlets and organizations. The majority of comments expressed opposition to scrapping remaining ownership limits. Commissioner, Michael Copps, has urged his colleagues to provide more opportunities for public input. So far, the FCC has responded with one official forum, which will be held on Feb. 27 in Richmond, VA. Commissioner Powell has resisted adding more hearings stating "that in the digital age, you don't need a 19th century whistle stop tour to hear from America." Despite this, independently organized public forums are starting to sprout around the country with various Commissioners attending. It looks like the one in LA will be televised on CSPAN, making more transparent a process that has historically gone on behind closed doors. Growing public awareness has clearly slowed the FCC down and bought more time for those of us who oppose consolidation to intervene in the process. More information on the Forum's panelists and how it can be seen or heard remotely etc will be available shortly. In the meantime I've included some background information below, including some articles attached. I hope you can participate by publicizing the forum and by attending. Martha Wallner / Media Alliance [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> USC's announcement: On February 18, USC will host a forum on proposed Federal Communication Commission changes to current rules governing media ownership. FCC commissioners, including Chairman Michael Powell, have been invited and are expected to participate, along with leaders from industry, labor, and the academic community. USC Annenberg's Center for Communication Law and Policy, operated in partnership with the USC School of Law, is sponsoring the forum, which is open to the public. Center director Sandra Ortiz was quoted in a January 15 Los Angeles Times article, expressing concern about the impact the proposed rules changes may have on local communities. "When local broadcast news programs disappear or fail to meet their community's needs, the public's 1st Amendment rights are compromised," she said. For more info from USC call (213)821-3015 or [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> For excellent information and breaking news on this issue see these websites: http://www.mediatank.org/ <http://www.mediatank.org/> http://www.mediachannel.org/ <http://www.mediachannel.org/> http://www.democraticmedia.org/issues/mediaownership/index.html <http://www.democraticmedia.org/issues/mediaownership/index.html> Clemencia Rodriguez Associate Professor Department of Communication University of Oklahoma 610 Elm Avenue Norman OK 73019 USA 405 325 1570 [log in to unmask]