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[DMCA-Activists] Demonstrators Gather in Advance of FCC Hearing
From: |
Seth Johnson |
Subject: |
[DMCA-Activists] Demonstrators Gather in Advance of FCC Hearing |
Date: |
Wed, 28 Jan 2004 16:51:48 -0500 |
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [MRN] Demonstrators Gather in Advance of FCC Hearing
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 12:46:39 -0800
From: radtimes <address@hidden>
Reply-To: address@hidden
To: address@hidden
Demonstrators Gather in Advance of FCC Hearing
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7786EFB0-46A1-4329-92F3-11056D8B9752
1/28/2004
Posted By: Jim Forsyth
Protesters from around the country, some of them veterans of anti
globalization demonstrations in Seattle, Miami, and elsewhere, are
descending on San Antonio to demonstrate their displeasure with media
consolidation at a Federal Communications Commission hearing on localism
set for tomorrow evening.
More than a dozen protesters, some of them wearing masks and dressed as
pirates, staged a loud demonstration in front of the San Antonio
headquarters of Clear Channel Communications Inc., a global radio,
television, billboard, and live entertainment company which is a frequent
target of anti consolidation demonstrators.
The protesters banged drums, blew trumpets, and encouraged passersby to
listen to a 'pirate' or illegal FM radio station which broadcast anti
consolidation messages until it was shut down by officials late Tuesday
afternoon.
"It is dangerous and anti democratic for so few people to control the
public's access to information and opinion,' protester Jim Ellinger said.
Clear Channel, which is the world's largest private owner of radio
stations, the country's largest concert promoter, and a significant player
in the artist management, television, and billboard industries, became a
poster child for opposition to media consolidation when it grew from 40
radio stations and a handful of television stations and billboards into a
multi national media conglomerate following the approval of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, which eliminated many of the barriers to
media growth.
"The FCC was created to regulate the interest of the public, but instead
they've allowed a few greedy media corporations to seize more than their
share of pirate's booty," Ellinger said.
San Antonio city spokeswoman Di Galvan said four groups have obtained
permits to stage demonstrations near the city council chambers where the
FCC hearing will take place, including labor unions, citizens and arts
organizations, and two anti-war coalitions which have criticized Clear
Channel for alleged close ties to the Bush Administration.
"There will be plenty of police on hand to deal with whatever situations
may arise," San Antonio Police Department spokeswoman Sandy Gutierrez said.
Ellinger said he'll urge the F.C.C. to place a cap on the numer of media
outlets individual stations can own.
"Diversification and localism are being lost at the expense of a solid
bottom line," he said he will tell the Commission.
Some labor and community groups have scheduled so called 'teach ins,'
throughout the day Wednesday to denounce media consolidation. In addition
to Clear Channel, the groups single out Time Warner Inc., Viacom, Inc.,
Walt Disney Co,, and General Electric Company as companies taking advantage
of the Telecommunications Act to snap up additional media outlets.
Clear Channel says it consolidation has increased the company's commitment
to localism, including local news and local involvement. Other major media
outlets plan to speak about their practices at the hearing.
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