October 21, 2003 Woolsey calls on Congress to restore FCC ownership rules to protect diversity, localism and competition in American media. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lynn Woolsey (Petaluma) today joined Senator Dorgan (North Dakota), Rep. Maurice Hinchey (New York) and her Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill to call on Speaker Hastert to debate recent changes to Federal Communications Commission’s media ownership rules. These rules changes would increase the concentration of media ownership in broadcasting and permit cross-ownership of newspapers and TV stations in most communities. The following are Rep. Woolsey’s words as prepared for the press conference:

“The voices of the American people must be protected. But on June 2 of this year, the FCC approved a new set of media ownership rules that allow large conglomerates to devour more independent media outlets and impose the laws of the jungle on the marketplace of ideas.

“The Senate has already passed a Resolution of Disapproval regarding the June 2nd FCC decision. This resolution would effectively nullify the FCC’s decision to weaken media ownership rules and will preserve localism, diversity and competition in our airwaves.

“I join my colleagues today to call on Speaker Hastert to protect the voices of the American people by bringing the Senate resolution to the House floor.

“Information is not just any commodity, like steel or textiles. A vibrant democracy depends on rich intellectual exchange, on the free flow of ideas from a variety of sources. This is a principle embedded in the first amendment’s free press protection and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court.

“But media consolidation stifles dissent and drowns out alternative voices. If the day comes – and I hope it never does - that one corporation owns several radio and TV stations, the cable network and single newspaper in one town, we may not only have lost the freedom to speak, but the opportunity to be heard!

“The airwaves belong not to Rupert Murdoch but to the American people.

“Speaker Hastert, protect the voices of the American people and bring Senate Joint Resolution 17 to the House floor and allow a healthy debate that the American people deserve.”