IMPORTANT: FCC MEETING DETAILS Mon 12/11 @ Belmont U

From Litz:

Folks:

Nashville is one of only a handful of cities selected to host an FCC public hearing on media consolidation and media ownership. As you know, corporate interests want to relax the rules over media ownership, allowing a corporation like Sinclair Broadcasting to own more stations in one market than FCC rules currently allow. Nashville was selected because of its importance from a music business/radio perspective, but there are plenty of us in Nashville frustrated over the corporate media's handling of news on our local television and newspaper outlets. Please consider attending this important hearing and possibly even speaking at it.

Thanks, LZ

FCC Will Hold Public Hearing on MONDAY at Belmont

The Federal Communications Commission will hold a public hearing in Nashville on Monday, Dec. 11, at the Massey Performing Arts Center at Belmont University, beginning at 1 p.m.

The hearing is open to the public and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. It is the second in a series of media ownership hearings the FCC will hold across the country regarding the impact of media deregulation, and is billed as the 2006 Quadrennial Broadcast Media Ownership Review.


There will be two panels, each followed by a period for public comment. The focus will be on how media consolidation of the past 10 years has affected localism and diversity in radio, television and print media. The first panel will examine issues affecting Music Row. (The second panel will provide an overview of the Nashville market and issues affecting broadcasters and independent programmers).

NSAI pro member Craig Wiseman will be part of the first panel discussion, which will last from 1 to 1:30, and others from the music community have been asked to give formal testimony.
Media consolidation has impacted the music business in many ways, including smaller playlists, less diversity, little local news or programming, few chances for breakout hits picked by a creative DJ, artists forced to play a certain venue because the parent company owns the local radio station, and in many other areas. This is an opportunity for our voice to be heard.
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