FCC's Copps prepared to hold ownership hearings

Breaking News at Electronic Media Online

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps today said he plans to hold a series of field hearings on proposals to ease agency media ownership restrictions, whether Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell comes along for the ride or not.

"This is potentially the most important, the most valuable, information we're going to get," said Mr. Copps, the agency's sole sitting Democrat, at a briefing for reporters in Washington.

Under a massive proceeding launched earlier this year, the FCC is poised to relax or eliminate many of the regulations that limit concentration of ownership in the media.

At the time the proceeding was announced, Mr. Copps asked Mr. Powell to commit to public field hearings intended to ascertain what citizens outside industry and the Washington Beltway think about the case for further deregulation. But according to Mr. Copps, the chairman's reaction has been "unenthusiastic.">> More

Read this article and email Mr Copps at this address before January 2, 2003.
Tell him the Airwaves belong to The People!