On Wednesday, March 7 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will hold a public hearing in Columbus, Ohio on the topic of media ownership. This hearing is on the heels of a hearing held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania just 2 weeks ago. This is a very important hearing to determine if the FCC will eliminate some of the current restrictions put on media ownership. In June of 2006, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, at the behest of huge media conglomerates submitted a proposal for further deregulation of media. The main restrictions that big media wants to eliminate are:

1. The rule on "newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership," which prevents companies from owning a television or radio station and the major daily newspaper in the same area, and
2. The local ownership caps that limit a company from owning more than one television station in most markets. (They can own two in larger markets as long as there are at least eight other competitors.)

vIf this passes that would mean, by way of an example, that the same company that owns the Grand Rapids Press could own a TV station and up to 8 radio stations in this market.

If you want to voice your opposition to this proposal to give big media even more control you can file comments online. We also encourage readers to make media ownership part of local organizing efforts and an issue in all upcoming elections. Media Mouse, in conjunction with the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy (GRIID), will be offering resources for you to organize around media justice issues in your communities. GRIID is presenting on this topic on March 7 at the Democracy For America meeting, which begins at 7pm at the Kent-Ionia Labor Hall, 918 Benjamin NE in Grand Rapids.

Related to this national campaign are local efforts to get Democracy Now! on the airwaves in Grand Rapids, with a print and online petition campaign. We need people to circulate the petition to get enough signatures before the September 1 deadline. In addition, there is an effort locally by the group ACTIVATE to improve reporting on the war in Iraq by the Grand Rapids Press and WOOD TV8.