John Hancock

This afternoon's 3-2 vote by the Federal Communications Commission to
remove barriers to corporate consolidation of control over the US media
capped a process that, even by the standards of George W. Bush's
Washington, dramatically illustrated the ability of corporate power to
trump both the interests and the will of the American public.

Ok! Since:

Congress has the power to overturn these rule changes, and an inclination to do so. More than 100 members of the House and roughly 20 members of the Senate asked the FCC not to approve these rule changes at this time. The members of Congress were right to be concerned, and they have the authority to act on those concerns now by introducing legislation that will undo these changes. Already, key members of the House and Senate have indicated that they intend to do just that. The first step in this process could begin as early as June 4, when members of the FCC are expected to appear before the Senate Commerce Committee.

and the

FCC Oversight
Full Committee Hearing
Wednesday, June 4 2003 - 9:30 AM - SR-253


Description: Full Committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, at 9:30 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the Federal Communications Commission�s (FCC) expected June 2nd decision on various media ownership rules with the Commissioners of the FCC. The Committee also will consider issues related to the FCC's reauthorization. Senator McCain will preside.

using

http://www.senate.gov/~commerce/about/membership.html

I emailed this message to those members I could this message.

Tomorrow the FCC Oversight Full Committee Hearing is scheduled to begin. I was one of thousands of "flesh and blood constitutional citizens" that wrote the FCC Commissioners only to be ignored in favor of "unconstitutional corporate citizens". "We the People" are damn tired of this crap.

If you think that it might help try it. If you think it's tilting at windmills tell me so I'll stop wasting my time.

Martin Buber

echidna

[Life ambition #372 : Use the word �quixotic� in a meaningful sentence.]

FWIW I don�t find your email quixotic. But I don�t know that it will have much effect unfortunately, I think protest letters are taken more seriously.

PatG

and phone calls....they're better than, or in addition to, email.

Kinross

You know its not that expensive to get an FCC license. If you don't like what is out there start your own station. You can have the Martin Buber Show on it.

slept2long

So? There is a BIG difference between being able to afford a license and being able to afford to START your own radio station.
Can you explain how easy it is for Martin to start his own radio station or are you just guessing he can?

Blixy Sticks

We need financial backing. Perhaps the Annenbergs and MacArthurs could help out.

How do we go about setting the wheels in motion? Is there a large enough audience to support the station? Will Corporations support a station that promotes an anti-conservative propaganda message? NPR is the only alternative available right now, so it seems, but they are in no way radical.

I would like to see more programs that rip the Hannity, Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Savage types to shreds. These bullies have the run of the mill right now. Nobody can or will challenge them. We need balance.

Colmes is a foil. Hannity shits on him day in and day out and Colmes seems to be just happy to be on TV. We need backbone.

Kinross

From here the total cost of constructing a radio transmission station to service a city of 1 million+ listeners would cost ~ $1.5 million. Lets say it would cost another 1.5 million a year for a small staff bringing the intial one year cost of $3 million. This is a very small amount of money to upstart.

Lets say in the population of 1 million you can find 1000 people who a really dedicated to your cause or 0.1% of the population. Each person would only need to contribute $3000, make the radio station non-profit and they can all deduct it from their taxes.

If you can't find 0.1% of the poulation to fund your venture, maybe nobody wants to listen to what you have to say.

slept2long

Maybe if your last name is Bush, Cheney or Rockefellar. If this is a loan you'd have to make payments I take it so that means income of some sort. Where would you get that income? The usual place is commercials but NPR and what not have donations and grants both private and government.
You can't just start a radio station. Unless it's a low power and still illegal one.

Impractical. How about just making the HUGE radio stations pay for it? Or since they do such a lousy job of providing a public service why not just take away there licenses? Or start doing a review each time they apply for renewal?

That's just silly.

John Hancock

Adam (cough) Smith

What in the fuck's this acerbic and nonsensical reply have to do with media consolidation? "Corporate citizenship" would cause the real Adam Smith to roll over in his grave. Your attack is proof of a limited intellect.

Martin Buber

PS Emails arrive before June 4th. :banghead: