Copps and Adelstein Disappointed by Upcoming Media Ownership Vote

COPPS AND ADELSTEIN DISAPPOINTED BY UPCOMING MEDIA OWNERSHIP VOTE
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHORS: Commissioners Copps and Adelstein]
We are deeply disappointed that the announced agenda for the December 18 open meeting includes media ownership. This is a huge mistake. The FCC should have heeded the calls of Congress and the American people to conduct a credible process on an issue of this importance to our very democracy. That means providing a meaningful opportunity for public input, rather than the callous disregard exhibited thus far - most recently, the Chairman circulated a draft decision on his proposal two weeks before public comment was even due! And it means taking meaningful action on minority and female ownership and broadcast localism, rather than the mish-mash of half-baked ideas currently before us. We have been engaged in internal discussions to try to get our processes back on track. We wish those discussions had led to better results. At this point, given the lateness of the hour, we hope that either we can turn this around internally, or that Congress can save the FCC from itself.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-278897A1.doc