There’s growing opposition to FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin’s push to loosen media ownership.
People who spoke at a public hearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C., including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, argued increased media consolidation has led to less local news and community service and urge the FCC to slow down. Martin, a Republican, wants the FCC to vote on media ownership changes on December 18.
According to the L.A. Times, the FCC’s two Democrats, Michael J. Copps and Jonathan S. Adelstein, agreed Martin’s timetable does not give enough time to complete a study of how broadcasters serve their local communities.
“A rush to judgment to clear the way for more big media mergers? No way,” Copps said at the start of the hearing.
A Media and Democracy Coalition poll released yesterday found that 70% of respondents thought media consolidation was a problem and 57% said it should be illegal for a company to own a newspaper and TV station in the same market.