Congress to the FCC: Protect the Public Interest

The Federal Communications Commission is still mulling proposed changes to the rules that protect the public from media monopolies. But reports that the agency is considering handouts to broadcasters have compelled dozens of organizations to remind the FCC that its policies must benefit the public.

Rep. Mike Doyle is pushing the FCC to do more to foster competition on the airwaves.

Ten members of Congress are the latest to urge the FCC to protect competition, localism and diversity on the airwaves. The letter from Rep. Mike Doyle and nine other members of Congress asks the FCC to maintain cross-ownership limitations and investigate covert consolidation:

“As the Commission reviews its existing media ownership limits, we urge you to protect the public interest by promoting rules that encourage competition, localism, and diversity in all local media markets … permitting further consolidation among traditional media outlets could result in a further decline in local media ownership and news production. …

“We urge the Commission to examine the impact of these [news sharing] agreements on jobs, diversity and localism in media programming, competition in local advertising, and competition for carriage by subscription television services.” 

Today, Free Press filed the comments of 30,000 people with the FCC, all calling for policy that serves the public’s news and information needs. In the past several weeks, the FCC has received similar messages from dozens of organizations, including civil rights and women’s organizations, journalists’ associations and even cable and satellite TV providers. While the details of these messages vary, there is one overarching theme: For too long, broadcasters’ interests have superseded the public interest. It’s time for that to change.

All of this attention, and the FCC hasn’t even proposed its rule changes yet. Add to this groundswell the millions of people who fought corporate handouts the last two times the FCC reviewed its rules, and one would think FCC Chairman Genachowski would take heed. The public has spoken and Congress has spoken. It’s time for the FCC to give the people what they want: diverse and competitive local media that serves community needs.

Photo credit: Laura Norden via Flickr

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Free Press does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media and universal access to communications.