If you are reading this, the FCC meeting in CHICAGO matters to you

In fifteen days, Chicago will be hosting the fifth of six official FCC public hearings on media ownership and diversity.

According to an analysis by the Consumer Federation of America, four firms control 58 percent of the entire local news market on TV and radio in Chicago. If the FCC were to further dismantle its few remaining rules mitigating media consolidation, the top four firms would likely increase their share to nearly 75 percent, with a single firm controlling one-third of the news audience.

Doesn't matter to you, because you get news from the Internet, right?

Wrong -- if the FCC doesn't get the message that people care about how open media are to community input, not just big media owners, the next step is to mess with Net Neutrality. While the upcoming meeting is going to focus on the larger issue of media ownership and whether the diversity of our community is being served by the current media ownership structure, if Big Media get a green light on dominating "old-school media", the next target will be Internet.

DATE: Thursday September 20, 2007
PLACE: Rainbow PUSH Coalition - 930 East 50th Street (corner of South Drexel) Chicago
TIME: 4 – 11 PM

Net Neutrality means no discrimination. Net Neutrality prevents Internet providers from speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination.

Net Neutrality protects the consumer's right to use any equipment, content, application or service on a non-discriminatory basis without interference from the network provider. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data — not choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.

Details about "net neutrality" and the FCC's role in keeping our blogs online for everyone to see.

More about why Media Consolidation hurts our democracy.

See Freepress for info on how to make a statment and more about the FCC.

Press Release from the FCC about the meeting:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT
September 4, 2007 Mary Diamond (202) 418-2388
Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:mary.diamond@fcc.gov" mary.diamond@fcc.gov

FCC Announces Details for Public Hearing on Media Ownership in Chicago, Illinois

Washington, DC – The Federal Communications Commission today announced details of its previously announced Chicago field hearing regarding media ownership (see press release dated July 19, 2007.)

The hearing date, time, and location are as follows:

Date:
Thursday, September 20, 2007

Time:
4:00 p.m. -11:00 p.m.

Location:
Operation Push
National Headquarters
Dr. King’s Workshop
930 East 50th Street
(corner of South Drexel Blvd.)
Chicago, Illinois 60615

The purpose of the hearing is to fully involve the public in the process of the 2006 Quadrennial Broadcast Media Ownership Review that the Commission is currently conducting. The hearing is open to the public, and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. This hearing is the fifth in a series of six media ownership hearings the Commission intends to hold across the country.

There will be a period for public comment following panel discussions. Further details including names of the panelists will be released prior to the hearing.

Open captioning and sign language interpreters will be provided for this event. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

For additional information about the hearing, please visit the FCC’s website at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership. Press inquiries should be directed to Mary Diamond, at 202-418-2388, or Clyde Ensslin, at 202-418-0506.

-FCC-

NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322