A Democrat serving on the Federal Communications Commission told 600 people Monday night that an upcoming vote could remake the country's entire communications landscape. The agency is studying whether decades-old ownership restrictions are suitable
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Published on 4/14/2003 in the Associated Press Hundreds Gather For Forum On Media Ownership by Staff Writer
COLCHESTER, Vt. - A Democrat serving on the Federal Communications Commission told 600 people Monday night that an upcoming vote could remake the country's entire communications landscape.
The agency is studying whether decades-old ownership restrictions are suitable for a market altered by satellite broadcasts, cable television and the Internet. FCC Chairman Michael Powell is looking for a June 2 vote on the overhaul.
However, as FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has traveled around the country trying to raise awareness of the upcoming vote, he says he's found few people are aware of the changes being studied.
"The genie will be out of the bottle and three-quarters of the American people do not know this issue is up for grabs," Copps told the standing room-only crowd Monday night.
The commission is reviewing six rules, including one that prevents a company from owning a broadcast station and newspaper in the same market, and another that prevents a company from reaching more than 35 percent of the TV households in the country.
The major networks have asked the FCC to abolish the ownership rules, saying the regulations restrict their ability to grow and stay competitive.
However, critics of efforts to overhaul the ownership rules say that weakened government restrictions will lead to more mergers and a few large companies controlling what people read, hear and watch.
"I think free speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment," Copps said Monday night. "The purpose of the First Amendment is to foster a deliberative democracy and nowhere in the First Amendment does it say a few people can control the airwaves."
Copps has sought more public comment on the media ownership review, while Powell has said the FCC will seek more comment if it is necessary.
"I'm not terribly optimistic about the outcome but I haven't given up hope," Copps said Monday.
Rep. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., who chaired Monday's meeting said the consolidation of media ownership by multinational corporations is "one of the least discussed major issues facing our country."
"The situation is bad, but it can get worse unless we fight back," he told the audience.
Also addressing the audience Monday were Angelo Lynn, publisher of the Addison Independent, and Ken Squier, owner of WDEV Radio in Waterbury.
Squier criticized the concentration of radio station ownership. With programming coming in from far away, Squier said it leaves those stations without a local connection.
"The salvation of radio is in local relevance," he said.
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