Last night I watched Bill Moyers Journal  on PBS, which featured a segment on the FCC. Evidently the Commision is gearing up again to allow more more and more media consolidation. This means that corporations like Fox News and Clear Channel  can own more newspapers and radio stations, and then control what you hear and read. Diversity of viewpoints and local programming would disappear. There is one last hearing on November 9th in Seattle, but then they are planning on making a decision in mid-December.

I am horrified to think of what would happen to our news sources if this consolidation goes through. So I sent my comments in to the FCC and I hope you will too.  This is their link: http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html

 Here’s what I said:

I oppose the consolidation of the media as proposed by the FCC. I believe this will do irreparable harm to our news sources from radio and newspapers. When these sources of information are managed and owned by big corporations who often live far from the communities they serve, then I believe their value is  severely eroded. News stories and information become syndicated and aimed at a very wide audience, losing local focus.

 

I have seen how important locally focused radio can be. I work at a small Public radio station on an island in Alaska. Our radio station is a lifeline to our community. The radio station provides in depth local news reporting and essential weather forecasts. Many of the people in my town make their living fishing on the ocean  and depend on our marine forecasts.

 

Radio in Alaska links many small rural communities with the larger towns by passing along information needed to ensure participation in the the public processes that govern our State. We depend on in-depth reporting on local and State issues to help us make informed decisions. Local meetings are broadcast over the radio  and public service announcements are aired throughout the day. Without the information provided by our radio stations we would be isolated and uninformed.

 

The recent wildfires in San Diego pointed out the importance of locally focused radio. My brother’s house was just a couple of miles from the fires raging out of control, but he had no information as to what was happening, or what to do. I told him to turn on his radio or television but there was no information on what was happening locally. He could get CNN type coverage, but that was not enough to let him know about the immediate danger that surrounded him.

 

At my radio station, a live person is able to report immediately on hazards in the community, be it from icy road conditions, to high winds or a tsunami warning. There is a syndicated radio station in town that is fed from a repeater up in Wasilla, Alaska. It is a commercial station and as far as I know,  this week as hurricane force winds ripped through our town, they continued with their syndicated programming.

 

I urge you not to vote to consolidate media sources. It will lead to the syndication of information which will be be devoid of local importance and value. This will be a hazard to public safety and it will accelerate a decline in public participation in the process of democracy which is fundamental to the freedom we cherish as Americans.

Thank you.

Julie Hursey

Petersburg, Alaska