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Freedom of the Press
The Most Serious Threat Is
Chester directs the Teledemocracy Project, a media policy watchdog group sponsored by Ralph Nader.
This past July, the Federal Communications Commission issued a formal Notice of Inquiry that in all likelihood will result in a rulemaking procedure early next year to push through many of the deregulatory proposals outlined in a recent FCC study. The study suggests that allowing broadcasters to own more stations, including more than one station in a single market, "may permit exploitation of economies of scale and reduce costs or permit improved service." In addition, it asserts, joint newsgathering operations "might permit improvements in the quality of local news coverage."
If the FCC's recommendations are adopted, we could see some ominous changes in the American media landscape. At a time when takeovers and mergers are already consolidating ownership in the media business, it may soon be possible for a single corporation to own an unlimited number of radio and TV stations across the United States. Giant multisystem cable companies, which currently control huge chunks of the cable programming and distribution business, could be permitted to merge with broadcast networks. And in city after city, one company could own two television stations and several radio stations.
As Americans increasingly rely on television for their news and information, further consolidation of the electronic media threatens to seriously undermine the diversity of sources vital to a healthy democracy. Instead of promoting competition among the media industries, the FCC's plans would remove the few remaining safeguards that now prevent a handful of huge conglomerates from owning and controlling all the means of mass communication in this controlling all the means of mass communication in this country. The reshaping of our communications system is too important a task to be left up t a commission whose principal interest seems to be the economic well-being of the largest media companies. Pressure must be put on Congress to prevent the FCC form turning its dangerous proposals into official policy.
