FCC hearing on media ownership 11/9 in Seattle

[eridani]

November 2, 2007

FCC Announces Public Hearing on Media Ownership in
Seattle, Washington

The Federal Communications Commission today announced the sixth and final public hearing on media ownership issues will be held in Seattle , Washington on Friday, November 9, 2007 .

The hearing time, and location are as follows:

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Town Hall Seattle
Great Hall
1119 Eighth Avenue (at Seneca Street)
Seattle, WA 98101

http://www.townhallseattle.org/greatHall.cfm

The purpose of the hearing is to fully involve the public in the process of the 2006 Quadrennial Broadcast Media Ownership Review that the Commission is currently conducting. This hearing is the sixth and final media ownership hearing the Commission intends to hold across the country. Previous FCC public hearings in the current review of media ownership issues were held in Los Angeles, CA on October 3, 2006; Nashville, TN on December 11, 2006; and Harrisburg, PA on February 23, 2007; Tampa Bay, Florida on April 30, 2007; and Chicago, Illinois on September 20, 2007.

The hearing is open to the public, and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The hearing format will enable members of the public to participate via "open microphone."

A live audio cast of the hearing will be available at the FCC's website at www.fcc.gov

on a first-come, first-served basis. The public may also file comments or other documents with the Commission and should reference docket number 06-121 when filing by paper or submit your filing electronically by going to http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cfs/upload_v2.cgi

and enter proceeding number 06-121. Filing instructions are provided at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership/comments.html.

Sign language interpreters and open captioning will be provided for this event. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation - needed, and include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504 {at}fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

For additional information about the hearing, please visit the FCC's website at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership. Press inquiries should be directed to Mary Diamond at 202-418-2388 or to Clyde Ensslin at 202-418-0506.

[electprogdems]

1. I didn't see your message and just reposted this

but it is so important, it deserves two notices.

[eridani]

2. Video and audio from the Backbone campaign

Last Thursday The First 100 Days Statement by Ambrose Lane, a Nominee for FCC Commissioner on the Progressive Cabinet played on KBCS Community Radio. This recording was made as a video greeting to participants at the June Progressive Cabinet Summit. In it he outlines the quid pro quo deal that then Rep. Newt Gingrich got to push through the Telecommunications Act of 1996. WATCH NOW.

Last Friday, Nov. 10 as Jonathan Lawson of Reclaim the Media reports "Advocates of diverse media, local media accountability, and quality journalism are seeing Friday's FCC media ownership hearing as a triumph. Over 1100 people attended the nine-hour marathon hearing, making it the largest of six such meetings designed to gather public opinion, as the FCC considers proposals to let big media companies buy up even more local TV and radio stations."

"The five Commissioners attending the hearing stayed on stage at Seattle's Town Hall until 1 AM listening to passionate pleas to reject further media consolidation. A diverse range of Northwesterners from five states stepped forth to testify -- despite the fact the hearing was announced just five business days in advance. Nearly everyone who spoke opposed deregulation, following a pattern established at previous hearings," wrote Lawson.



"We citizens should be able to turn on our televisions at 6:00 PM and see a wide variety of viewpoints and analysis. We citizens should not have to be information research specialists in order to be well-informed! THIS is what is meant by "THE PUBLIC INTEREST!" ~ Roger Fulton

Listen to Roger Fulton's invigorating testimony at the Seattle FCC hearing. Roger is a researcher, technician, and blogger with the Backbone Campaign. His testimony at the Seattle FCC hearing triggered a partial standing ovation. Find his entire statement, as well as links to audio and video of the Seattle FCC hearing, and more here.

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001boW0MYJZnZl_ih9SzoqpSDv_yHedAqPBT3e4e0M0jQPhAZydry3gsotxQRQaTDaJ_PsLm1gP_cHm72E8qahBf440GK7jq_Kp5MAasHi37wDjyJfAMcT9oBDK0GfzH8SlFnWbVBdy5tE=

http://www.backbonecampaign.org/Blog.cfm?ID=149