Former FCC Commissioner: Big Media Dumbs Down Democracy

A Q&A with former Federal Communications Commission member Michael Copps.

This week, Moyers is focusing on the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to relax the rules that prevent one company from owning radio stations, television stations and newspapers all in the same city — a move activists say would hurt diversity and be a boon for the Rupert Murdochs of the world. It’s déjà vu for Michael Copps, who served on the commission from 2001-2011 and was acting chairman from January to June 2009 — a tenure marked by his concern for diversity and opposition to media consolidation. Copps is now the senior advisor for media and democracy reform at Common Cause. He stopped by our office to share his concerns about the FCC’s latest proposal.