CHICAGO MEDIA ACTION ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER: July 1, 2003
http://www.chicagomediaaction.org

(1) What's Happening in Media Politics

Good news: On June 19, 2003, the FCC Senate Commerce Committee--in a
voice vote--rejected the FCC deregulation vote of June 2.  The matter now
goes to the Senate and to the House and rides a wave of momentum.  

This Committee vote is a testament to the growing public outcry over media
concentration.  The vote itself restores: the 35% TV ownership rule and
the newspaper/TV cross-ownership rule, and further eliminates an exemption
for radio conglomerates to maintain violations (that part passed
12-11).  What's more, the FCC is now required to hold at least five
official public hearings across the U.S.

Different pro-diversity legislation is also being drafted and
presented.  S. 1046, the Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and
Competition in Television Broadcast Act of 2003, is advanced by Fritz
Hollings (D-SC) and Ted Stevens (R-AL).  There's even talk of rescinding
the FCC deregulation efforts by adding appropriation bill riders, which
would prevent the deregulation from being funded, and by use of a
"resolution of diapproval"--a seldom-used parliamentary maneuver to force
a vote to override the FCC without presidential approval.

(2) What's happening with CMA and locally?

CMA organized a protest against FCC Chair Michael Powell on June 10 at
McCormick Place--to coincide with Powell's arrival and speech at a
conference of the National Cable Telecommunications Assocation.  Though
CMA didn't able to meet Powell, CMA did meet another FCC Commissioner--
Republican Kevin Martin.  (Photos of the protest and of Mr. Martin are 
posted on the CMA website).

We're planning to reorganize the CMA website and give the site a badly-
needed redesign.  We're growing our active membership and forming
specialized committees on specific issues--so far, we have radio, WTTW,
Media Monitoring, and the FCC.  If you're interested in getting more
involved with these committees, contact CMA.

(3) Random factoid about the media

In 1943, the FCC forced the National Broadcasting Company to sell one of
its two networks.  That network, the NBC Blue Network, became the American
Broadcasting Company--ABC.  

(4) Announcements

We're co-organizing (with the Chicago Independent Media Center and Redline
Radio) the We The Media celebration--a party involving a lot of
independent media outlets from across Chicago.  We The Media will be held
Friday, July 4, at buddy, 1542 N. Milwaukee in Chicago (near the Damen
stop on the Blue Line).  We encourage you to come.  See details at:

http://chicago.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=27657&group=webcast

There's talk of having a protest at a Michael Powell-connected firm with
offices in Chicago.  Watch for more details.

This is the monthly electronic newsletter of Chicago Media Action, a
Chicago activist group devoted to media issues.  

Chicago Media Action, P.O. Box 14140, Chicago IL 60614-0140  Call
toll-free 1-866-260-7198.  Web: www.chicagomediaaction.org; email: 
cma@chicagomediaaction.org