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Maurice Hinchey (NY-22)

RESTORE DEMOCRACY TO AMERICA'S MEDIA SYSTEM

Support the Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005 (MORA - H.R. 3302)

The state of today’s media system threatens the ability of our democracy to function by prohibiting the "widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources.” The shrinking marketplace of ideas demands a legislative response.             

From the recent debate over public broadcasting, to the uproar that followed when the FCC tried to weaken its media ownership rules in June 2003, it is clear that Americans want a diverse media that is responsive to local communities. Unfortunately, the consolidation of the media has created a system that is less diverse and less responsive to local needs.

MORA is a broad measure that seeks to undue the massive consolidation of the media that has been ongoing for nearly 20 years. It restores the fairness doctrine, reinstates a national cap on ownership radio stations, and lowers the number of radio stations one company can own in a local market. It further reinstates the 25% national TV ownership cap, requires regular public interest reports from broadcasters and provides for more independently produced programming on television. The bill establishes new public interest obligations to ensure broadcasters are meeting the needs of a local community and requires increased and sustained public input and outreach so that our constituents have a voice in the programming they receive.

Media ownership is proving to be one of the most important issues facing our country today. In order to sustain our democracy people must have access to diverse sources of information. Our nation’s courts, including the Supreme Court, understood this by striking down FCC’s 2003 media ownership rules. Now it is up to us to establish statutory limitations on media consolidation and provide clear guidance to the Federal Communications Commission as it initiates a new rule-making proceeding on media ownership.