Media Consolidation Alert

[Eric J in MN]

Common Cause CauseNET for November 10, 2003

MEDIA CONSOLIDATION ALERT--- We need your calls!!

Today, the Senate is expected to begin debate on a spending bill that
includes a provision that blocks the FCC from implementing a higher
ownership cap ? a "cap" that allows one company to own television stations reaching up to 45 percent of the national audience. The provision now in the spending bill (H.R. 2799) maintains the current 35 percent national cap. The House approved a similar measure, keeping the 35 percent limit, by a vote of 400-21.

Unfortunately, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is threatening to strip this
language from the bill by offering an amendment to allow the higher 45
percent ownership cap.

On the up side, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) is expected to offer
an amendment that would re-impose the newspaper-TV cross-ownership ban. Without such a ban, one media giant could own a local newspaper, up to three TV stations and up to eight radio stations in one media market.

These votes may be the Senate's last opportunity this year to address
media ownership issues. This could be our last chance to tell Congress we oppose the FCC's outrageous and unpopular media ownership rules ? rules that will increase media consolidation and decrease the diversity of voices that is so important to our democracy.

Please call your Senators today and ask them to vote:

1. AGAINST Sen. McCain's amendment allowing the higher 45 percent
national ownership cap favored by the FCC

AND

2. FOR Sen. Hutchison's amendment re-imposing the newspaper-TV
cross-ownership ban


*** Be on the lookout for another CauseNet alert today. On the same
appropriations bill an effort will be made to restore civil liberties
protections taken away under the Patriot Act. More to come....check your
email!

If you know who your Senators are, you may call the Capitol Switchboard
and ask for them directly:

=> 202-224-3121

Otherwise, you can look up your Senators and their numbers here:

=> http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm