Protect Independent TV, News, and Radio. Stop Media Consolidation!
Big media companies are lobbying the FCC to rewrite our media ownership rules, which currently limit how many local media outlets a given company can control in every town.
Vying for more market control, these conglomerates want to overturn current protections, particularly the rule on "newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership." This rule prevents companies from owning the major daily newspaper and one or two broadcast TV stations in the same town.
If ownership limits are eliminated, ONE media company could potentially own the major daily newspaper, at least EIGHT radio stations and THREE or more television stations in the same town. When big media companies own most of the radio, TV, newspapers in town, the media outlets drift away from serving local needs and air fewer local voices and opinions.
Join Consumer's Union in telling the FCC to stop media consolidation! Be part of the official record, and urge the FCC and Congress to ensure that we have reasonable media rules that ensure diversity, localism and competition.
UPDATE: FCC public comment period ends October 23rd, so make your voice heard now!
Dear FCC Commissioners,
Please don't allow more media consolidation. When different companies control the TV, radio and print news in my community they compete with each other to provide me better local and national news.
I don't want the same company that owns my TV station or my radio station to also own my newspaper I would just get the same news all over again.
I rely on the media to find out about national and local issues. I want to feel confident that I can get all the viewpoints I need to make well-reasoned decisions about these issues. I also want media outlets in my town to care about my needs and interests.
Thank you for your consideration of this important issue. I look forward to hearing from you about your efforts to ensure diversity, localism and independence in our media.
Sincerely,
