Senators Blast FCC Attempt to Gut Media Ownership Rules
WASHINGTON -- On Friday, Sens. Bernie Sanders, Patrick Leahy, Tom Harkin, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Ron Wyden, Jon Tester, Al Franken and Jeff Merkley sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski about his proposal to weaken longstanding media-ownership rules. Their letter comes on the heels of Thursday’s scathing letter from Sen. Maria Cantwell.
To read the full letter from the senators, go to: http://www.freepress.net/sites/default/files/resources/Senate_Letter_to_FCC_Media_Ownership_Letter_11_30_2012.pdf
To read Sen. Cantwell’s letter, go to: http://www.freepress.net/sites/default/files/resources/11_29_12_Media_Ownership_Letter_to_FCC.pdf
Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron made the following statement:
“We commend the senators for standing up for the public and reminding the chairman that the FCC is mandated to protect and promote diversity in our nation’s media, not forge compromises between industry groups.
“The outcry against the FCC's plans is growing louder every day. The FCC should shelve these failed consolidation policies, follow the federal court mandate to study the impact of any changes on ownership diversity, and work with the public and Congress on policies that will actually serve communities."
