Tennessee Health Care Campaign (THCC)
Health Care, TennCare, Cover TN & You
Info & Action Alert - State & National Actions
December 8, 2006

The FCC is coming to Nashville ...get ready! Who owns the airways? You or Big Media?

Do you want the media to do a better job of covering issues you care about? Do you want more quality journalism? Are you wondering whether a few media conglomerates will provide the diverse and independent viewpoints you need? The Federal Communications Commission is trying to change the rules so that a handful of Big Media companies can swallow up even more local newspapers, radio stations and TV stations. The FCC has promised to "hold public hearings in diverse locations around the country to fully involve the American people" in the FCC's review of media ownership rules.

On Monday, December 11, in Nashville, the FCC is holding the second of ONLY half a dozen official public hearings on media ownership. Now is your chance to tell the FCC that you won't stand for more media consolidation.

How you can make your voice heard:

  1. Prepare Your Testimony to the FCC That's right! You can have 2 minutes to speak directly to the FCC about why diversity and local ownership of media are important. Prepare your testimony at a free workshop: Saturday, December 9th, 2pm—at the Nashville Peace and Justice Center, 1016 18th Ave S Contact: Amanda Ballantyne 612-849-0195
  2. Help Spread the Word: Are you available on Saturday Dec. 9 in the evening? We're looking for a few good volunteers who can help us call our friends and allies in the Mid South to encourage them to come. If you can spare a couple of hours, please contact Joel Kelsey from Consumer's Union: joel.j.kelsey@gmail.com
  3. Come to the Hearing: Monday, December 11th! The line for people who want to testify will begin forming at 10:00am and the hearing itself will begin at 1:00pm and will last late into the evening. Come whenever you can:

Hearing Location: Belmont University

Massey Performing Arts Center

Massey Concert Hall, 1900 Belmont Blvd, Nashville

Map and Directions
 More Info: StopBigMedia.com

Without your input, the FCC will likely decide to unleash a new wave of consolidation—allowing large media corporations to seize more control of local news and stifle diversity on the airwaves. It's first-come, first-serve, so make sure that you arrive early to get a chance to testify.

All five FCC commissioners, including Tennessean Deborah Taylor Tate, are expected to be at this event, and so are plenty of Big Media lobbyists who will argue for more media consolidation.

We need to create the kind of momentum we saw in 2003 when millions of Americans stood together to stop the FCC from handing over local control of the media to massive conglomerates.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Craig Aaron, Free Press, (202) 441-9983
Jen Howard, Free Press, (202) 265-1490, x 22



Country Legends to Testify at FCC Hearing in Nashville 

George Jones, Porter Wagoner, Naomi Judd to join hundreds of citizens concerned about the costs of media consolidation

NASHVILLE -- On Dec. 11 in Nashville, legendary country musicians George Jones, Porter Wagoner, Naomi Judd, Dobie Gray and Craig Wiseman will testify about media consolidationŐs impact on musicians at an official Federal Communications Commission hearing.

They'll be joined at the event by dozens of community leaders, several award-winning journalists, and hundreds of concerned citizens from throughout the region who are speaking out in response to the FCC's plans to change media ownership rules.

"I'm excited that pioneers of music and journalism -- winners of Grammy Awards and Pulitzer Prizes -- are speaking out about media ownership," said U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper (D-Nashville), who will also testify at the event. "Preserving a diverse spectrum of media voices is important to Nashville, and it's essential for a healthy democracy."



All five FCC Commissioners are expected to attend the hearing, which will feature an "open microphone" session for the public to offer testimony on a first-come, first-served basis.

"I encourage every citizen to attend this Monday's full Commission hearing on the music recording industry and Nashville's local media," said Commissioner Michael J. Copps. "The FCC desperately needs your input as it considers the future of America's media.

Please come help us make sure that the nation;s airwaves remain the people's airwaves – used to promote localism, diversity, and the public interest."

Musicians and songwriters are increasingly at the mercy of a consolidated radio industry. More than half of Nashville's commercial radio stations are controlled by outside owners. Two national conglomerates -- Clear Channel and Cumulus Broadcasting -- dominate the Nashville radio market, each owning five stations. 



"Our forthcoming economic analysis of radio programming shows that the overwhelming majority niche musical formats like Classical, Jazz, Americana, Bluegrass, New Rock, and Folk, where they exist, are provided almost exclusively by smaller station groups," said Jenny Toomey, executive director of Future of Music Coalition, who will participate on the musicians' panel at the Monday hearing. "Nashville's classic country music fans who want more Americana, Bluegrass and Folk should understand that further radio consolidation will have exactly the opposite effect on their radio dial."



The possible media ownership rule changes up for debate could further eliminate local radio owners by allowing big national conglomerates to get even bigger. Clear Channel has petitioned the FCC, asking to own as many as 12 radio stations in a single local market.



"The public owns the airwaves, but the big corporations that own media outlets determine what we see and hear on the air," said Harold Bradley, international president of the American Federation of Musicians and President of the AFM's Nashville Local.

"As media ownership becomes increasingly concentrated, music on the air has grown more homogeneous, to the detriment of recording musicians, local music communities and the public."

For more information, visit www.stopbigmedia.com/=nashville 

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Why is the Tennessee Health Care Campaign testifying before the FCC? Every Wednesday from 4-5 PM Central Time, THCC has a radio show on Radio Free Nashville called, Health Care in Tennessee. The show provides information about the latest news about CoverTN, TennCare, Medicaid and other health care news that impacts on ALL Tennesseans. No other news media provides this information from the view point of the consumer. Visit our website to get more information, www.tenncare.org

Attached are three different flyers to distribute about this FCC Public Hearing: Flyer #1, Flyer #2, Flyer #3

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Tony Garr, Tennessee Health Care Campagin, 1-615-227-7500,