FCC rule change would favor big media

[Commentary] A cornerstone of American democracy is a free and open press providing diverse viewpoints. As Thomas Jefferson said in 1823, “The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted to be freely expressed.” In America today, however, a trend toward corporate media consolidation is drowning diverse opinions and eliminating local control. In 1983, 90 percent of the American media was owned by 50 companies. Today, 90 percent is controlled by just six corporations: General Electric, News Corp., Disney, Viacom, Time Warner and CBS.

The Federal Communications Commission may be on the verge of making a bad situation worse. It is considering a rule change that would clear the way for even more media consolidation. All Americans should be deeply concerned. We believe the public remains strongly opposed to the weakening of cross-ownership rules, as evidenced by 200,000 Americans who just in the past week signed a petition opposing the FCC’s latest proposal. That is why we call on the FCC to delay its scheduled vote in January by at least six months. In the intervening time, the commission should hold public hearings across the country, invite further public comment and get to work on practical measures to promote minority ownership and enhance diversity in media. The commissioners should listen to the voices of the American public instead of the corporate media that the FCC is supposed to regulate.