From Reclaim the Media:
Advocates of diverse media, local media accountability, and quality journalism are seeing Friday's FCC media ownership hearings as a triumph. Over 1100 people attended the nine-hour marathon hearing, making it the largest of six such meetings designed to gather public opinion as the FCC considers proposals to let big media companies buy up even more local radio and TV stations. Read the full statement. Go here for links to audio and video of the Seattle hearing.

 Read more about Oregonians in Seattle and follow up options. But now that FCC Chair Kevin Martin has released his proposed media ownership rules, read about  
Devil in the Details, analysis by Free Press.

Several Oregonians were on the panels while others testified at last Friday's Media Ownership hearings before the Federal Communications Commission in Seattle. 

Bruce Fife, president of Portland-based American Federation of Musicians Local 99 linked lack of airplay for local artists to consolidation of radio station ownership.

Erubiel Valladares Carranza of KPCN-LP in Woodburn said, "We need more low power FM, and less corporate radio standing in our way."

Other Oregonians who spoke out against the media ownership rules and for greater diversity of voices were Andrea Cano representing the Oregon Alliance to Reform Media,Sue Diciple representing Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, and Alan Bushong from Community TV in Salem.

A volunteer for Democracy Reform Oregon reported back:
"I had hoped to testify for Democracy Reform Oregon but we ran out of time last night with so many people testifying. I had to leave my written testimony and the 90 petition signatures objecting to the idea with the FCC staff. It was worth the trip anyway. We got to clap, shout, and stomp to express our support of the excellent public testimony and our opinions of the whole bad idea."

Recent polling confirms public opposition to media consolidation. Read the poll results. How would the proposed media ownership rules affect Oregon? Read the Cooper Report and our analysis

Couldn't get to Seattle? You can submit your comments online to the FCC.Your comments are
invaluable. In 2003 it was these public comments that helped us stop the FCC
when they tried to relax media ownership rules.

Also tell Oregon's congressional delegation what you think! Many of them are already on board, so say thanks and urge their colleagues to join in. Click here to learn more and for contact information.