By Juliana Gruenwald, National Journal
The FCC came under criticism Wednesday for its decision to defend media ownership rules that critics argue allow for greater media consolidation.
The FCC filed a brief in the U.S. District Court of Appeals in Philadelphia defending the media ownership rules adopted in 2007 under Republican Chairman Kevin Martin. The FCC relaxed rules [...]

WASHINGTON — Today, the Federal Communications Commission filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Third Circuit addressing broadcast media ownership rules. In the brief, the Commission’s majority, with Commissioner Michael J. Copps dissenting, supported former-Chairman Kevin Martin’s 2007 decision to relax the Newspaper Broadcast Cross-Ownership (NBCO) rule in the nation’s top [...]

Andrew Jay Schwartzman, President and CEO testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet regarding Chairman Martin’s proposal to repeal the newspaper cross-ownership ban. Allowing for the cross-ownership of a local newspaper and broadcast station would reduce the diversity of voices in a local market and result in a market [...]

Andrew Jay Schwartzman, President and CEO of Media Access Project (MAP) testified before the FCC hearing on localism in broadcast media. Mr. Schwartzman implored the Commission to address localism through ensuring broadcasters provide locally originated and produced programming that addresses the needs, tastes, and interests of the local community. As he notes:
bq. “Effective local service [...]

On behalf of Prometheus Radio Project, MAP filed reply comments in the FCC’s ownership proceedings, refuting several industry arguments made in favor of increasing media consolidation. MAP counters industry claims that recent increases in programming choices and advances in technology have eliminated the need for ownership diversity and reasonable regulation. MAP also explains why a [...]