More than 800 people filled the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition last Thursday night, testifying for more than seven hours before the Federal Communications Commission about the negative impact of runaway media consolidation.

If you couldn’t be in Chicago, you can still make your voice heard. In his opening remarks at the hearing, Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein proposed that the FCC establish an independent panel to study minority ownership. He said:

“So today, as one who believes that we should no longer shirk our responsibility to the American people, I am calling on Chairman Martin and my colleagues to join me in creating a bipartisan, independent panel to review the more than 40 policy recommendations that were proposed by the FCC’s Diversity Committee and the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council.”

For Adelstein, a new bipartisan task force would not just be another governmental panel, but a necessary step in ensuring that the FCC meets its mandate to support diversity, competition, and localism. For him, it is a matter of justice. He notes, “A comprehensive answer to the dearth of female and minority ownership cannot wait any longer. We need answers to these fundamental issues of justice, fairness and diversity before we act on any rules to further consolidate the media.”

Within days, members of the Senate and Congress echoed Adelstein’s call. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) endorsed the creation of a task force in public statements and letters sent late last week to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

We are calling on the public to support this important initiative by calling on Chairman Martin to establish a Minority Media Ownership Task Force. Click here to add your voice.