Thursday, May 29, 2003

As America reduces itself to a simplistic black and white/good and bad view of the world we have interesting commentary from the Europeans. (this is pretty much the norm these days). I wonder what happens when we need them ... 8:48:17 AM     horrifying! Is this the end of Middle Earth? 5:23:57 AM     Last night I caught NBC Nightly News and they did a three minute piece on media consolidation (their "in depth" feature). The issues were poorly presented and Powell was presented as someone who only wants to reform hopelessly a hopelessly archaic policy. John Edwards has sent a letter to Powell on the subject. I print it here as he has requested broad circulation May 28, 2003 The Honorable Michael K. Powell Chairman, Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 Dear Chairman Powell: I write to urge you not to increase the national broadcast ownership cap and not to proceed with the rulemaking scheduled for June 2. Diversity in the media is enormously important to our democracy. As consumers, Americans should have choices in the music they can hear and the television programs they can watch. As citizens, Americans should have access to different ideas and points of view. The government has a responsibility to foster this diversity of expression. Unfortunately, the FCC?s new rules are likely to undermine it. The effects on rural America could be particularly harmful. People in rural communities and small-town America have distinctive interests, and local stations offer programming that responds to these interests. In recent years, local stations in rural North Carolina have offered prime-time broadcasts of Atlantic Coast Conference basketball games, Billy Graham crusades, and muscular dystrophy telethons. All Americans can appreciate the importance of offering local programming tailored to local concerns. By undercutting this diversity, the FCC?s new rules will do a disservice to all Americans. I have heard you suggest that with the growth of cable and satellite television, broadcast diversity is no longer important. That may be true in some affluent communities, but many Americans do not have cable and satellite television, especially in rural areas. These Americans depend on broadcast news and programming, and their programming should offer real choices that are responsive to their interests. I am especially troubled that your agency is implementing these proposals without permitting further public discussion. The FCC does not have a mandate to make controversial decisions without giving the public a full opportunity to comment. The fact that two Commissioners have requested a delay should signal to you that the prudent course, at the least, is to postpone the vote and permit open public discussion. Thank you for you consideration of this request. Yours sincerely, John Edwards cc: Commissioners Abernathy, Adelstein, Copps, and Martin 5:23:10 AM

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