[cma-l] US community media win diversity ruling

[Steve Buckley]

Congratulations to our community media friends in the US...

//
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2011

Contact: Brandy Doyle
Prometheus Radio Project
(215) 727-9620 x518
<mailto:brandy at prometheusradio.org>brandy at prometheusradio.org

Federal court rejects media consolidation in Prometheus vs. FCC
Ruling represents second historic victory for 
Prometheus Radio Project this year

PHILADELPHIA – On Thursday, the U.S. Court of 
Appeals for the Third Circuit issued its 
long-awaited verdict in Prometheus Radio Project 
v. the Federal Communications Commission, 
rejecting the FCC’s attempt to further deregulate 
media ownership. The Court threw out FCC rules 
that would have allowed one company to own a 
newspaper and broadcast stations in the same 
market. The Court also upheld the FCC’s other 
limits on local broadcast ownership, and agreed 
with Prometheus and other public interest groups 
that the FCC failed to consider the impact of its 
rules on women and people of color.

"We won on almost every point. This decision is a 
vindication of the public's right to have a 
diverse media environment,” said Andrew Jay 
Schwartzman of Media Access Project, who argued 
the case on behalf of Prometheus.

This is the second major victory this year for 
the Prometheus Radio Project, whose ten-year 
effort to pass legislation expanding community 
radio succeeded when President Obama signed the 
bipartisan Local Community Radio Act into law on 
January 4. The law will result in thousands of 
new community radio stations, and the FCC will be 
accepting applications for stations as early as next summer.

Both victories are the result of widespread, 
bipartisan grassroots organizing. The Third 
Circuit Court’s decision referred to the 
testimony from thousands of people who 
participated in FCC ownership hearings 
nationwide, finding that the FCC failed to give 
people adequate opportunity to weigh in on the rules.

“Media matters. Thousands of people fought to 
pass the Local Community Radio Act, and thousands 
more spoke out loudly when the FCC tried to 
further consolidate broadcast media. We’ve won 
these battles, but we must continue to push the 
FCC to do the right thing for community radio. 
Industry voices always have the ear of the FCC, 
but thanks to the nationwide clamor for a better 
media, we have their attention now,” said Brandy 
Doyle, Policy Director at the Prometheus Radio Project.

On July 12, the FCC will again propose new rules, 
this time to implement the Local Community Radio 
Act. The rules must comply with a mandate from 
Congress to ensure that channels will be 
available for low power FM community radio in 
urban markets. They will set a balance between 
low power stations and translators, which repeat 
the signals of larger stations. Prometheus and 
other public interest advocates are working for 
rules to give urban communities a voice on the airwaves.

“We look forward to seeing the FCC’s proposal on 
July 12, and we are ready to push for stronger 
rules if necessary,” said Doyle. “Commercial 
broadcasters must share the airwaves with the 
urban churches, schools, and non-profits who have 
waited more than a decade to serve their communities with radio.”

Preparing for that opportunity, volunteers 
nationwide are mobilizing community groups to 
apply for stations through Prometheus' 
<http://www.radiosummer.org>Radio Summer outreach campaign.

Prometheus first won its landmark case against 
the FCC in 2003, blocking the FCC from 
dramatically consolidating broadcast media 
ownership. In 2007, the FCC tried to deregulate 
the industry again, seeking to end a 35-year old 
ban on newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership. Today 
the Court rejected that effort.

In today’s win, Prometheus and Media Access 
Project were joined by public interest allies 
including Free Press, the Georgetown Institute 
for Public Representation, Media Alliance and United Church of Christ.
###

The Prometheus Radio Project advocates for a more 
just media system and builds low power community 
radio as a tool for social justice organizing and 
community expression. <http://www.prometheusradio.org>www.prometheusradio.org


-- 
Brandy Doyle
Policy Director
Prometheus Radio Project

<mailto:brandy at prometheusradio.org>brandy at prometheusradio.org
w: 215.727.9620 ext. 518
c: 607.339.1759 <--try when you don't reach me in the office
<http://www.prometheusradio.org>http://www.prometheusradio.org