Demonstrators Gather in Advance of FCC Hearing

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [MRN] Demonstrators Gather in Advance of FCC Hearing
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 12:46:39 -0800
From: radtimes <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

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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