FCC hearing pits David vs. Goliath

[NashVegas]

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061211/BUSINESS01/612110331/1003

A David-and-Goliath battle is set to take place today in Nashville as the Federal Communications Commission makes its way to Belmont University for the second of six public hearings being held across the country seeking input on rules governing media ownership by corporate conglomerates.

On one side are large national broadcasting and publishing companies arguing that a set of antiquated FCC ownership restrictions is hampering their ability to compete in a rapidly changing media landscape — one increasingly populated with aggressive players such as Google and Microsoft.

On the other side are the grass-roots voices of community-minded radio stations and, in Nashville especially, a strong contingent of songwriters who say that a decade of radio consolidation has sucked the life from their craft and cheated consumers out of musical variety over the public airwaves.

...

A second panel — which will include The Tennessean Publisher and President Ellen Leifeld along with people such as Alex Jones, director of Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, and the Consumer Union's Gene Kimmelman — will address issues facing broadcasters and independent programmers.

It should be noted, the Tennessean is a Gannet-owned paper and slants the story towards consolidation.

[Le Taz Hot]

1. K & R

Hearings are today, 1:30 EST. The article didn't indicate whether or not they will be televised. The Fourth Estate, may goddess bless their black souls, needs to be reigned in by the American people. The airwaves belong to US and Murdoch & ilk need to be reminded of that.

[dmosh42]

2. Very important to all of us

There used to be linits on the number of stations anyone or any group could control. Some years ago, they dropped those rules, and we can see what has happened with this consolidated media. Slanted news, dropped news reports, and no investigative reporting. Wish I was close enough to attend.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. There's been too much consolidation already

we certainly don't need more of it.

Someone needs to tell the big corps - evolve or die.

[tridim]

4. If the FCC did their job, there would be no Goliath

How about holding a hearing that pits David vs. The FCC?

[melm00se]

5. chuckle

On the other side are the grass-roots voices of community-minded radio stations and, in Nashville especially, a strong contingent of songwriters who say that a decade of radio consolidation has sucked the life from their craft and cheated consumers out of musical variety over the public airwaves.

Radio stations were programmed remotely long before the ownership rules changed in the mid-90s. When I worked in radio in the 80's, the number of stations that self programmed was 1.

so this argument sounds valid but is 25 years after the fact.

[rman]

6. "ability to compete" = make ever more profit

I wonder if they ever consider how the new 'relaxed' regulations affect the ability to compete of small independent media outlets...

[NashVegas]

7. I've Heard There Are Some Open Seats

If you're in the area.

[thingfisher]

8. It's more like David vs Goliath and the FCC.