The Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously to roll back the FCC's controversial Dec. 07 decision to allow media owners to combine newspapers and broadcast stations in the country's largest markets. The Resolution of Disapproval now moves to the Senate floor, which must bring the measure to a vote within the next months. Washington State Representatives Jay Inslee and Dave Reichert introduced a companion resolution in the House.

In the House of Representatives, a bipartisan coalition led by Rep. Jay Inslee has filed a measure that would void the controversial media ownership rules pushed through the FCC by Chairman Kevin Martin last December. The Resolution of Disapproval comes on the heels of a similar resolution filed the previous week by a bipartisan group of Senators including Maria Cantwell, Byron Dorgan, Ted Stevens, Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton and Olympia Snowe.

Rep. Ed Markey has introduced new legislation to help make Internet freedom, or net neutrality, the law of the land. Markey's Internet Freedom Preservation Act sets forth strong public-interest values which we need to sustain a truly democratic Internet, and it directs the FCC to heed those values when responding to violations of net neutrality by companies such as Comcast and AT&T. Read on for a detailed analysis of the bill, and hit SavetheInternet.org for more information.

Washington State Congressmen Jay Inslee and Dave Reichert have introduced legislation that will counteract the FCC's decision to allow further consolidation of media companies. The Media Ownership Act would retroactively prevent the FCC’s rushed decision from becoming law by requiring more time for public comment. In the Senate, Senator Maria Cantwell is cosponsoring a similar bill.

Take action to urge your elected officials to reverse the FCC!

On Dec. 18, the FCC voted 3-2 to remove an important protection for diverse voices in our media. Chairman Kevin Martin pushed through the decision, which will allow big media firms to combine both a newspaper and TV or radio stations in the same market, despite overwhelming opposition from the public and elected officials across the political spectrum. Dissident Commissioner Michael Copps said of the vote, "Powerful companies are using political muscle to sneak through rule changes that let them profit at the expense of the public interest."

While the decision ends media ownership deliberations at the FCC, controversy over the issue is far from over. Congress may act to overturn the FCC's decision; it's up to us to make sure that happens. Add your voice to the chorus of dissent! Take action - write to Congress and tell them to roll back the FCC's giveaway to big media corporations.

On the first business day after 1100 people turned out for the FCC's last public hearing on media ownership, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin announced his proposal to allow media companies to combine broadcast stations and newspapers in the twenty largest cities in the US. The move flies in the face of overwhelming public opposition to weaking the cross-ownership rule, and the timing clearly demonstrates that Martin planned the FCC's recent fly-by-night public hearings in DC and Seattle as window-dressing, rather than as actual public process.

What's the next move? The five-member FCC must now vote to approve or reject Martin's proposal. Anticipating Martin's move, several Senators have introduced a bipartisan bill which would put the brakes on the FCC's illegitimate and anti-democratic process.

Take Action Now to tell Congress to put the brakes on Martin's public process train wreck!

Advocates of diverse media, local media accountability, and quality journalism are seeing Friday's FCC media ownership hearing 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 TV and radio stations.

The five Commissioners attending the hearing stayed onstage at Seattle's Town Hall until 1am listening to passionate pleas to reject further media consolidation. A diverse range of northwesterners from five states stepped forth to testify -- despite the fact the hearing was announced just five business days in advance. Nearly everyone who spoke opposed deregulation, following a pattern established at previous hearings.

LATE UPDATE: The Seattle FCC hearing was a phenomenal event. Over 1100 people from across the Northwest kept the Commissioners in their chairs from 4pm until 1am with articulate, often impassioned testimony opposing further ownership deregulation. More info after we get some sleep!

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has announced plans to hold the final public hearing on media ownership on Friday, Nov. 9 at Seattle's Town Hall, giving the Northwest an unbelievable five business days to prepare for the hearing. The rushed hearing is part of Martin's plan to fast-track changes to the rules by mid-December. The hearing will be the only chance for Northwest residents to weigh in on proposals that would allow giant media companies to grow even more concentrated.

FCC Public Hearing on Media Ownership
4pm-11pm, Nov. 9 2007
Town Hall Seattle, Great Hall
1119 Eighth Avenue

The FCC has now released a detailed schedule for the event.

Town Hall directions and parking info

Read on for more information, a summary of the rules at stake, and addtional resources.

• Spread the word - email your friends
• Downloadable information

On Friday afternoon, Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Jay Inslee sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin requesting that his office provide at least four weeks' notice before the date of the Seattle media ownership hearing. Martin responded by scheduling the hearing just five business days in advance.