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Petition: Roll Back FCC Media Ownership Rules!
Hey guys,
I think it's really important that as many people living in the U.S. as possible sign this petition.
Here's the situation in a nutshell: The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) recently relaxed their limits on media ownership by a 3-2 vote in June. If this decision holds up, it would allow the large media conglomerates like Clear Channel to dominate the media markets without challenge. Not only would the legs of the little guys be cut off, but it would result in less integrity in journalism and less quality and variety in media - specifically in music. Does that serve our interests? I don't think so!
30,000 people have already signed this petition - the FCC's decision is a disservice to everyone except the corporations and their coffers. It'll only take a few minutes of your time and it should lead to positive, lasting change. Good things are already starting to happen because we're speaking out:
We *can* make a difference. Thanks, guys. 
I think it's really important that as many people living in the U.S. as possible sign this petition.
Here's the situation in a nutshell: The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) recently relaxed their limits on media ownership by a 3-2 vote in June. If this decision holds up, it would allow the large media conglomerates like Clear Channel to dominate the media markets without challenge. Not only would the legs of the little guys be cut off, but it would result in less integrity in journalism and less quality and variety in media - specifically in music. Does that serve our interests? I don't think so!
30,000 people have already signed this petition - the FCC's decision is a disservice to everyone except the corporations and their coffers. It'll only take a few minutes of your time and it should lead to positive, lasting change. Good things are already starting to happen because we're speaking out:
House Dems Push for Vote on FCC Rollback
GOP Leadership Likely to Block Effort
WASHINGTON -- (AP) A mostly Democratic group of House members on Tuesday urged Republican leaders to schedule debate and a vote on a resolution that would repeal media ownership rules approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this year.
The leadership has pledged to kill the measure, which moved to the House last month after the Senate's 55-40 approval. The resolution would undo changes to FCC regulations governing ownership of newspapers and television and radio stations.
Critics say those changes could lead to a wave of media mergers and ultimately stifle diversity and local viewpoints in news and entertainment. A federal appeals court already has temporarily placed the rules on hold.
The lawmakers said they will send a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, asking him to allow a vote on the measure. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., the lead backer of the resolution in the Senate, is joining the effort.
"The voice of the Senate has been heard loud and clear," Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., said. "The House should be given the same opportunity."
Hinchey's staff said 180 Democrats, one independent and eight Republicans have agreed to sign the letter.
The group would need 218 signatures on a petition to force a House vote on the resolution.
A Hastert spokesman did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
To succeed, the resolution -- called a "congressional veto" -- needs majority approval in the Senate and House. The White House has threatened to veto the resolution and it would take a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate to override.
Lawmakers critical of the FCC rules acknowledge stiff resistance in the House, but they doubt President Bush would use his first veto to defend the rules.
There are other pending legislative attempts to roll back the ownership rules, most of them focusing on restoring TV ownership restrictions.
In June, the Republican-dominated FCC completed an extensive review and voted 3-2 along party lines to ease decades-old ownership restrictions. The changes included allowing a single company to own TV stations reaching nearly half the nation's viewers as well as broadcast stations and a newspaper in the same area.
On Sept. 3, a federal appeals court in Philadelphia temporarily blocked the rules from taking effect the following day as scheduled. The court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case Nov. 5. Several other legal challenges to the rules from broadcasters and consumer groups are pending.
GOP Leadership Likely to Block Effort
WASHINGTON -- (AP) A mostly Democratic group of House members on Tuesday urged Republican leaders to schedule debate and a vote on a resolution that would repeal media ownership rules approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this year.
The leadership has pledged to kill the measure, which moved to the House last month after the Senate's 55-40 approval. The resolution would undo changes to FCC regulations governing ownership of newspapers and television and radio stations.
Critics say those changes could lead to a wave of media mergers and ultimately stifle diversity and local viewpoints in news and entertainment. A federal appeals court already has temporarily placed the rules on hold.
The lawmakers said they will send a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, asking him to allow a vote on the measure. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., the lead backer of the resolution in the Senate, is joining the effort.
"The voice of the Senate has been heard loud and clear," Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., said. "The House should be given the same opportunity."
Hinchey's staff said 180 Democrats, one independent and eight Republicans have agreed to sign the letter.
The group would need 218 signatures on a petition to force a House vote on the resolution.
A Hastert spokesman did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
To succeed, the resolution -- called a "congressional veto" -- needs majority approval in the Senate and House. The White House has threatened to veto the resolution and it would take a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate to override.
Lawmakers critical of the FCC rules acknowledge stiff resistance in the House, but they doubt President Bush would use his first veto to defend the rules.
There are other pending legislative attempts to roll back the ownership rules, most of them focusing on restoring TV ownership restrictions.
In June, the Republican-dominated FCC completed an extensive review and voted 3-2 along party lines to ease decades-old ownership restrictions. The changes included allowing a single company to own TV stations reaching nearly half the nation's viewers as well as broadcast stations and a newspaper in the same area.
On Sept. 3, a federal appeals court in Philadelphia temporarily blocked the rules from taking effect the following day as scheduled. The court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case Nov. 5. Several other legal challenges to the rules from broadcasters and consumer groups are pending.
Ming... I can just see you now, watching 1984, yelling at the people being brainwashed... "YOU ARE JUST TOO DAMN LAZY TO FIND ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF MEDIA!"
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