"FREE SPEECH FOR RUPERT MURDOCH"

In January of 2000 I wrote an Op-Ed piece for the LA Times concerning media consolidation. About a week later AOL acquired Time-Warner, since then the FCC has paved the way for other consolidations including giving CBS the right to own and operate the UPN network. The FCC stated that this merger would create efficiencies, and DO NOTHING TO HARM THE FCC'S GOAL OF DIVERSITY AND COMPETITION. Once again the FCC has followed the political tide and made a ruling not in the public interest, and given incredible reasons to validate their decision. News Corp. (Rupert Murdoch) has announced its intention to buy Direct TV having already acquired the station operator Chris-Craft Industries. This gives them among other properties, two stations and a newspaper in New York City. This may be ok with the FCC but it should not be ok with the people of this country.

FCC Chairman, Michael K. Powell, has promised to eliminate rules that he considers unnecessary because of the evolution of Satellite, Cable and the Internet. Many cannot understand how the commission could reverse these rules at this point. It certainly remains to be seen what will happen to these delivery systems if News Corp. controls Direct TV, AOL/Time-Warner have enormous cable holdings and are trying to buy more. Wouldn't it prudent to re-examine the landscape in ten years and make a decision at that time?

Seventy -five years ago, when the FCC was established, the airwaves were to be licensed to those who would use them for the public benefit. It does not benefit the public when the FCC permits widespread ownership of media outlets by just a few companies.

Diversity of ownership promotes diversity of thought, and America has thrived on diversity of thought for over 200 years.

These media giants are not satisfied that they have "eaten" the vast majority of the information and entertainment delivery systems in our country, so what have they done? They have gone to a Federal Appeals court to overturn the FCC ruling that limits these "poor" media companies from owning TV stations that cover more than 35% of US television households. They have had the temerity to state, "By preventing existing entities from expanding the national ownership cap., this hinders competition and diversity to the detriment of the public at large and deprives certain localities of the kinds of superior programs that only a national broadcaster is able to provide." These people went on to say that existing rules are arbitrary and violate their constitutional rights to free speech. Isn't this " ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE!"

These giants would like to devour independent media outlets in this country in order to manifest complete power over broadcasting. While this will serve to increase their profitability, it will serve as well to increase their political power. Isn't it safe to say, those who control the broadcast media will control the process that elects Mayors, Governors, Congressmen, Senators and of course Presidents. If these companies have their way the voices that America hears will be the voices of Sumner Redstone, Michael Eisner, Steve Case and Rupert Murdock.

If the networks have their way (and it appears that they will) in removing the ownership cap. (which violates their constitutional right to free speech) they will be successful in eliminating on the same basic cross ownership rules, so they can own all the newspapers that they choose to own, and all of the radio stations they would choose to own. Mel Karmizan has announced that CBS would be interested in buying NBC and AOL has announced that it would like to buy ATT Broadband. And under the circumstances "Why not?" These guys with the help of Cable companies that they own and the Telco's will find a way to control Broadband delivery on the internet.

To quote from Paddy Chayefsky's Network (1976) ".........and how about America and democracy?.........There is no America; there is no democracy; there is only IBM and ITT and ATT and Dupont, DOW, Union Carbide and Exxon. These are the nations of the world today." If he were writing this today, he would probably say "........there is only News Corp., Disney, AOL and Viacom."

Paraphrasing Howard Beale, "I want you all to go to the window and open it, go on the Internet and go on the telephone and shout I'm fed up and I'm not going to take it anymore."

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