For years, there has been an effort by media corporations to change the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules on ownership. Media companies want to own more of the airwaves, cable, print and telecommunications systems in this country. The FCC proposed last fall to change the ownership rules, deciding in favor of big media companies to allow them to own more broadcast outlets in the same market and to allow for the first time ownership of daily newspapers and TV/radio stations in the same community.

The national media reform group Free Press organized a campaign to get the Congress to challenge this FCC decision and was able to get 250,000 people to lobby the US Senate to reject the FCC ruling. Now, Free Press is working to get the US House of Representatives to do the same by calling on the public to contact their representatives to support HR. J. Res. 79 which is a House version of the Senate Resolution passed in May.

We contacted Representative Vern Ehlers' office on this matter and here is the vague response they gave us:

"The FCC recently made several changes to long-standing media ownership rules. The FCC eased restrictions on media cross-ownership between newspaper, TV, and radio stations in the country's 20 largest media markets. This decision also allows mergers in other markets under certain circumstances.

Supporters of the change argue that the old rules were overly restrictive and no longer reflective of the number of sources of media and news coverage available to consumers. However, while I know that there are many more media outlets now than when the rules were originally written, I am still concerned that these rules will stifle competition and reduce diversity of programming and news sources. It is important that West Michigan residents should not be limited to getting their news and information from only one or two sources.

Legislation has been introduced in the House (H.J.Res. 79), which disapproves of the FCC's rule and declares that the rule shall have no force or effect. The House has not yet considered this resolution. It has been referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet for consideration. The Senate passed a similar resolution (S.J.Res 28) by voice vote.

I will continue to monitor how these rules affect my constituents inWest Michigan, and will keep your views in mind."

We encourage everyone to contact your representatives and ask them to support House Resolution 79. You can send an electronic letter by using the Stop Big Media campaign action alert system. They are hoping to get 100 co-sponsors signed onto this resolution by the time Congress comes back from their ummer break.