FCC Chairman Launches Initiative to Promote Broadcast Localism

[Judi Lynn]

FCC Chairman Launches Initiative to Promote Broadcast Localism
By David Ho Associated Press Writer
Published: Aug 20, 2003




Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell announced Wednesday a series of initiatives aimed at ensuring broadcasters serve the communities in which they operate.
The move comes amid intense criticism of the FCC's decision in June to revamp media ownership rules, which opponents said would promote more mergers and limit local programming.

"We heard the voice of public concern about the media loud and clear," Powell said. "Localism is at the core of these concerns, and we are going to tackle it head on."

Powell said the FCC will form a task force that will make recommendations to the commission within a year on promoting localism in broadcasting. The FCC also will speed up the licensing of hundreds of low-powered radio stations, often run by churches, community groups and schools. And Powell directed his agency's staff to begin an inquiry seeking comment on FCC rules aimed at promoting localism. (snip)

(snip) "Talking about new rules to protect media localism, particularly when those rules creep into the area of content regulation, is merely an effort to divert attention from badly reasoned and badly written ownership rules that won't stand up in court," said Mark Cooper, research director for the Consumer Federation of America. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAIBRHLLJD.html

[Chico Man]

1. What a facade

This is ridiculous. Like he really gives a crap about localism. Sure, he heard the public loud and clear. What does he do? Form a friggin task force to "promote" localism.

Sounds like voluntary emission standards to me.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. This is what I wrote a few days ago when this first came up:

"If he can't change the rules to allow the Murdochs to gain monoplies, then maybe he can slice and dice what conservatives view threateningly as "liberal" media. Would be interesting what they find. I've been looking for the liberal media since 1998."

I'll revise those comments and say that the rules will probably be stacked in favor of conservative local broadcasters. I'm not sure how they'll do it, but that's what I project will happen.

[asjr]

4. FCC

I saw him on C-Span. He can outdo Ari Fleisher any day in the week on doublespeak. He must have graduated Doublespeak Univ. Yes, he is going to see about more local radio, but the way it was presented you could make anything out of it you wanted. But all I could see in my mind was more right-wing radio coming to a town near me. He didn't say what kind of radio--just more radio. He is a big joke.

[Kolesar]

2. The creep kept citing all the cable tv channels available when criticized

about localism during his leadup to deregulation. It was totally disingeneous--cable tv channels are national, not local, so it does not help localism if consumers can those fifty channels of fluff. Here it looks like the GOP has repackaged his deregulation to get around the biggest glaring deficiency in his plan.

Creep, indeed

[gristy]

5. Sorry, dude.

You have NO credibility with anyone who even remotely followed the run-up to your June decision regarding media ownership. You are a lame duck chairman. Go home, close the door, and wait for the call regarding your replacement.

[otohara]

6. More Lies & Propaganda

Those voices didn't make a damn bit of difference when he went ahead and ignored the public concern. This goes completely against what he said in Aspen just this weekend.

[LeftHander]

7. No GOOD! We need low power FM radio!

2 to 3 mile range...inexpensive to startup.

Progressive Radio...opportunities!

GOOD music! Activism!

This is the key to grass roots activism we have to get access to the airwaves.

They have been stalling these low power statiuons for ages to keep the progressive voices off the air. Alos the major music industry has been lobbying to keep control of the music by only playing Shitteny, Crustina and Shitniya

The key is to make sure progressives get organized and get a station up and running before the religious right sucks up all the freq's....

Lets get those licence apps going people....

[Zhade]

8. This is a delaying tactic.

Murdoch is all set to get DirecTV by the end of the year (which scares the hell outta me, for many reasons, some personal). This isn't a change of heart - it's a press release to stall critics until it's too late to stop Murdoch's consolidation plans. That's what's really at the heart of the FCC ruling. I can't see the two as unconnected.

But what do you expect from the son of a traitorous liar? He's just following Daddy's example - lie and deny until the momentum is too great to stop whatever they're pushing (like Powell Sr.'s UN speech on February 5).

[aquart]

9. This will be voluntary, of course.

[KoKo]

10. Kick for a "Powell Bone Throw to his dogs!"

:kick:

[David Zephyr]

11. "Localism" Is NOT at the Core of the Concerns.

Isn't amazing how this piece of shit corporate whore can sum up the reasons for the opposition to his cheerleading for monopolistic control of the media.

What a whore.