Rep Rush Reams FCC Over Diversity

The Federal Communications Commission got hammered by Democrats over diversity at the June 11 House Communications Subcommittee hearing on media ownership.

While most of the raised eyebrows over FCC action or inaction came from Republican members, the lack of diversity in broadcast ownership -- only four African American-owned TV stations, for example -- drew outright jeers from Rep Bobby Rush (D-IL).

Rep Rush said one of the reasons he had joined the Communications Subcommittee was to help increase media ownership diversity. He said he had been disappointed for a number of years, but that the current state of diversity was the worst it has been in his 21 years in Congress. He said he did not see a "vigorous commitment" from the FCC on diversity and that he was disappointed in the continual excuse-making.

Rep Rush questioned why FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler had pulled the plug on the critical needs study which was to help determine how ownership affected diversity of voices.