Along with the hundreds of thousands of comments filed by individuals opposing further media consolidation, a wide range of consumer, civil rights, media reform and other public interest groups have filed thousands of pages of research and expert analysis on the devastating impact of weakening media ownership rules.
Below is a selection of the official comments and other research conducted by members of the StopBigMedia.com Coalition.
Devil in the Details
This report exposes 10 key facts that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin doesn't want you to know about his proposal to lift the longstanding ban on "newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership." Although Martin has presented his proposal as a moderate compromise that would only impact the 20 largest media markets, the report reveals how the loose and ambiguous "waiver" standard proposed by Martin creates a giant loophole for big media companies to sidestep the ban in any market and for any station.
Out of the Picture 2007
This new study examines the damage that consolidation has inflicted on minority and female television station ownership.
Off the Dial
Learn about the dismal state of minority and female ownership in radio.
Download the executive summary.
The Imbalance of Political Talk Radio
See how policy decisions led to the dominance of conservative talk radio.
As part of rulemaking procedures, members of the public -- including individual citizens, public interest groups, and industry representatives -- are invited to send their comments to the FCC. Free Press, Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union filed thousands of pages of research and analysis in the current FCC ownership docket. Read their comments below:
Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, and Free Press: Further Comments (Dec. 11, 2007)
Ex Parte Comments on Media Ownership Studies (Nov. 14, 2007)
Reply Comments of Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America and Free Press (Nov. 1, 2007)
Analysis and critique of FCC research by Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, and Free Press: critique of FCC research (Oct. 22, 2007)
CU, CFA and Free Press: comments on minority media ownership proposals (Oct. 1, 2007)
CU, CFA and Free Press: complaint under the Data Quality Act (Sept. 11-21, 2007):
CU, CFA, and Free Press: initial comments (Oct. 23, 2006)
Prometheus Radio Project: reply comments
Communications Workers of America, (CWA)
AFL-CIO and Department for Professional Employees
Media Access Project on behalf of Prometheus Radio Project
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, (AFTRA)
Center for Creative Voices in Media
These charts explain who's who when it comes to Big Media.
The marriage of Comcast and NBC is bad news for consumers. But Washington and Wall Street have already bought into the idea that it's a done deal. That's why Americans need to speak out now and stop the mega-merger!
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