FCC decides to allow ownership of newspaper and broadcast outlets in the same city.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) released the following statement today after the Federal Communications Commission 3-2 party-line vote to change the rules governing media ownership. Last month, Woolsey hosted a public forum in San Rafael featuring FCC Commissioner Michael Copps to inform constituents about the proposed media rules changes. She also joined more than 100 of her colleagues in asking FCC Chairman Michael Powell to delay today’s decision:

“We recently went to war against a foreign regime whose oppression was based largely on control of the information received by its citizens. How ironic, that the Federal Communications Commission decided to limit the voice of the American people. By approving new media rules that allow for the continuation of unfettered media consolidation, the FCC has chosen to represent the interests of large media corporations at the expense of diversity and localism -- the life-blood of our democracy.

“A vibrant democracy depends on a rich intellectual exchange of ideas, from a variety of sources. But media consolidation stifles dissent and drowns out alternative voices and will only enrich moguls, discourage entrepreneurship and diminish quality.

“If conservatives were faithful to their stated belief in localism, they would be fighting the new FCC rules. But today's conservatism is based on little more than handouts to special interests who bankroll Republican campaigns. So it is hardly surprising that the three Republican FCC commissioners appear to support the changes. Nor is it surprising that the Bush administration would embrace a policy designed to smother diversity of opinion.

“Like the rule itself, the rule-making process has been about silencing critics and ducking debate. FCC Chairman Michael Powell put the rules on a sneaky fast track, holding only one official hearing and giving his fellow commissioners only three weeks to review the final proposal.

“The airwaves do not belong to Rupert Murdoch, but to the American people. 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 have lost, not only the freedom to speak, but the opportunity to be heard - and isn’t that the same thing?

“The public airwaves are placed in a trust whose guardian must have an allegiance to the public interest rather than to the bottom line. By deciding in the interests of big business, the FCC has abrogated its responsibility to protect the airwaves for the American people. This cannot continue and I will continue to fight to protect the freedom of all Americans to not only speak, but to be heard.”