Copps on how to make the public interest survive and thrive

Speaking at the FCC's Future of the Media workshop, Federal Communications Commission member Michael Copps noted that he has been trying to revitalize the public interest -- especially in broadcasting -- since he joined the Commission nearly nine years ago. He said the FCC and the private sector have dropped the ball for the past 30 years -- three decades of horrendous decisions set in motion a media free-fall that has inflicted serious consequences on the body politic.

The private sector harm here was a tsunami of media consolidation fueled by the same hyper-speculation that was fueling so many bubbles in so many other industries. Stations were gobbled up en masse and totally unrealistic expectations were visited upon both them and even upon the ones who managed to stay unconsolidated. A lot of broadcasters, I think, weren't thrilled and many wanted to keep their emphasis on serving their local communities, but it became harder and harder-almost impossible-for them to do so. "Play the game or get voted off the island" became the mantra of this dangerous game of Media Survival. He said the question now is not whether there is a public interest, but how to make it survive and thrive.