The FCC chairman is planning to announce a new media consolidation proposal soon. This will not be as sweeping as the previous one that was beat back in congress, but it will try to allow consolidation of newspaper and radio ownership. There will be a short (3 week?) period for comment. There is an FCC public hearing in Seattle on November 2, so time to come out and show our power again. Write your Senators and Members of Congress AND the FCC commissioners and tell them that media consolidation is hurting the quality of information you get. If you're in Seattle or within a drive, plan to head up to the hearing on November 2 to voice your displeasure.
How do I know? I was in the room with a source very very high up at the FCC.
We won last time though massive outcry. 80% of grassroots REPUBLICANS are opposed to further media consolidation. Trent Lott and Olympia Snowe voted against the FCC's rules on the Senate Commerce Committee. This is a stinker of an issue for the Republicans, but Bush promised big media that they would get a loosening of the rules back in the 2000 campaign and his FCC wants to fulfill it's promise.
Last time the FCC was flooded with letters and emails to the point that the politicians had to slap it back. They'd clearly touched a nerve. This time they're being a bit more savvy and having public comment (though extremely short) so they can say they've done it. They're putting this issue through a short time frame to try to get it out of the primary season and have a done deal.
I was at an interesting meeting last night of media activists and an undisclosed source from the FCC. The agenda was thrown out the window after the news broke about this plan to rush consolidation through. We spent the time talking strategy about how to defeat this proposal. The time is short, so we need to make a stink now. If you go to a presidential candidate's event, ask them about media consolidation. If your congress critters are on the Commerce Committees, express your displeasure. If you live in a state where the commissioners are from, tell them that if they approve this, you'll never let them hear the end of it in their political careers. If you're in Seattle, show up early to the hearing on November 2.
More info to come when available.