FCC Holds Media Ownership Rules Hearings

FCC HOLDS RULES HEARINGS
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Ken Tucker]
Four FCC commissioners -- Kevin Martin, Michael Copps, Jonathan Adelstein and Nashville's own Deborah Tate -- were on hand at Belmont University here for the second of six public hearings on the media ownership rules. Commissioner McDowell was not present. On the agenda were two panels, one focusing on how current media ownership rules affect the music industry and the other a look at the Nashville media market. A number of the commissioners' opening comments brought cheers and applause from the audience, particularly Adelstein's and Martin's vows to fight payola. Commissioner Copps, who cited a lifelong love for country music, may have gotten the biggest response, though. "If anyone tells you big media's push for more consolidation has gone away, don't believe it," Copps said. "People don't have enough say about how their airwaves are used, and it's time for that to change." He also took the opportunity to attack former FCC chairman Michael Powell for attempting to loosen ownership restrictions "under cover of night." The resulting outcry, according to Copps, "shows that concerned citizens can still make a difference in this country. Commissioner Adelstein, a musician and avowed music fan, questioned whether consolidated radio would allow Elvis Presley to get his start today. "I sometimes wonder if the next Elvis is out there somewhere throwing down his guitar in disgust because he can't get on the radio because he's 'different,'" Adelstein said.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=10034...

* Country Legends Plead with FCC to Stop Radio Consolidation
Some of country music's biggest names shared a stage at a "town meeting" in Nashville to tell the U.S. Federal Communications Commission how the consolidation of radio stations has affected their lives. George Jones, 75, claims radio has deemed him "too old" to play his music.
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfmsection_id=9&screen=news&news...

* Statement by Chairman Martin
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268912A1.doc
* Statement by Commissioner Copps
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268906A1.doc
* Statement by Commissioner Adelstein
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-268905A1.doc
* FCC comes to town to talk about rights of free expression
[Commentary] An op-ed from FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006612100373

* Nashville Knocks Consolidation
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6398743.html?title=Article&sp...

* FCC Hears Arguments for, Against Easing Ownership Rules
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=11217
(requires free registration)

* FCC Hears It From Open Mikers
During the open-mike session of the FCC media ownership hearing in Nashville Monday, the FCC heard from some angry Tennesseans on the subject of media consolidation. One man who took the mike to register his complaint said he owned the only local station in his town after the others were moved by a corporate owners, who he called "idiots in suits."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6398935.html?display=Breaking...

* Copps Cheered in Nashville
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps was in his element Monday, getting a Nashville reception that Hank Williams would have been proud of. His opening remarks at the FCC's second regional media ownership hearing, being held in Nashville, were interrupted time and again by applause and cheers as he pounded on the FCC's remanded ownership rules -- "hammered through" under cover of night against his objections -- and said that the FCC had to listen to people this time around and put localism at the head of its agenda.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6398898?display=Breaking+News

* Country Stars Bemoan Radio Consolidation to FCC
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=11211

* Broadcasters Ask FCC to Think Small
A coalition of small-market broadcasters led by Raycom's Paul McTear will be lobbying the FCC asking for the same duopoly rights as their big-market brethren. The group argues that smaller-market broadcasters are feeling a serious financial squeeze from a costly digital transition, the elimination of network compensation and shrinking ad revenues.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2006/12/13/daily.2/