May 21 Demonstrate/Testify at FCC Hearing: Broadcast Media Belongs to the People!

You may recall that the Federal Communications Commission held an unprecedented hearing on the Stanford campus two years ago...at that time the issue was internet neutrality. (indybay photo above is from street theater/demo at that event)

This Friday, May 21, the FCC returns to Stanford with a public hearing, which the FCC is billing as a "workshop", and public comment period on the topic of Media Ownership/Media Consolidation.

The FCC is soon going to decide how to proceed on modifying media ownership rules.

Note: you don't have to register and you can come for any portion of the event.

This event to be held in ***Dinkelspiel Auditorium from 10 to 5pm*** signals that the FCC may try to lift its longtime ban on cross-ownership, which prevents a single company from owning the major newspaper and a broadcast station in the same market.

Schedule:

9:45 am. the Raging Grannies will greet the FCC on the steps of Dinkelspiel Auditorium. Please join us! Demonstrate to oppose weakening the ban on cross-ownership by large corporate news organizations.

10:00 a.m. Opening remarks inside the Auditorium

10:15 a.m. Panel I-- Changing Distribution Channels

11:45 am public comments*

NOON to 1:15pm. Demonstration outside the auditorium by MoveOn members, Raging Grannies, more.

1:00pm Public hearing break

2:00pm Panel II - The Changing Financial and Business Model for Media in the 21st Century

Panelists include: multiple corporate media representatives, but also:
Jim Joyce, Vice President of Communications Workers of America and
Tiffiniy Ying Cheng of the Participatory Culture Foundation

3:30 to 5:00pm Public comment period*

*The last time the FCC held a public event at Stanford each person was limited to 90 seconds. There was a sign up procedure but everyone who attended was able to speak.

Please join in and be a voice against corporate control of our media.