Transition to Digital TV

Drew Clark, Senior Writer at Technology Daily, was on Washington Journal on 7/16/2005

This link might work or search the archives but I think it eventually becomes unavailable.

Very Large Numbers of Americans Hold Negative Opinions about the News Outlets

"The public continues to express skepticism toward news outlets and those who run them.
More than half (53%) agree with the statement"I often don't trust what news organizations are saying."
Nearly as many (48%) believe people who decide on news content are "out of touch." link to PDF:
people-press.org/reports/pdf/215.pdf

the power of television to inform the public

"Roughly three-quarters of Americans state that they get their information from broadcast or cable television.  No other source of information—not newspapers, magazines, or the Internet—comes close to the power of television to inform the public." from -Be A Witness Overview of Research and Methodology.

The contemplated FCC action could result in the biggest special interest windfall, at the expense of American taxpayers, in history.

Norman Ornstein, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and Michael Calabrese, director of the Spectrum Policy Program at the New America Foundation, warn us of "another harmful move being contemplated by the [ FCC ] commission." Their article is a warning that the FCC plans to sell off our airwaves, "We're talking about privatizing the airwaves, a public resource worth hundreds of billions of dollars in both market value and future federal revenue." - from their article "Don't privatize our airwaves A FEW LUCKY INDUSTRIES WOULD REAP HUGE PROFITS" By Norman Ornstein and Michael Calabrese.

"These airwaves are owned by the public. For more than 75 years broadcasters, cellular phone companies and other commercial service providers have acquired exclusive access to scarce spectrum space only under temporary, renewable licenses; in return, they serve the public interest." They warn the FCC plan "confers a massive and undeserved financial windfall -- up to $500 billion -- on a few lucky industries."

FAQ

Is this like the public access on cable TV?

No. These new channels will be broadcast quality productions utilizing professional camera and sound people with technical expertise equal to that found on the major network TV. The public will use the services to reach their fellow Americans, the technical employees at the stations will enable them to do so.

Do the broadcasters now pay to use our airwaves?

No. The broadcast licenses are given to the TV and radio broadcasters for free on the condition that they serve the public interest.

The general public must compete on equal footing with powerful interests.

Another example of the relationship between Big Media and Big Government:
"... coverage of a different sort is taking place in the ABC "Government Affairs" suite, as the network apparently uses its plum position and its press passes to lobby lawmakers on the convention floor." Watching the watchers

The general public must compete on equal footing with powerful interests. We now have a historic opportunity, a powerful solution to the problem of giving citizens equal political power with major corporations. We now have a historic opportunity to secure our rights to equal political participation. We now have a historic opportunity to effectively use our political power, armed with information as easily found as we find commercials. We now have a historic opportunity to broadcast news and information selected by ourselves with maximum distribution of power presented through mass communication. We must establish a Fair Media to take advantage of this opportunity. If we allow all of our airwaves to be sold off we will have lost our chance since it will be next to impossible to pry those airwaves out of corporate hands after they grab them.

Historic Opportunity to Use Our Airwaves

(Web site updated)

Historic Opportunity for Media Reform

Powerful special interests are lobbying our government right now in order to gain control of the new TV and radio channel capacity made possible by digital broadcasts. We must act now if we want to have a say in who will control the new channels. We have a historic opportunity to add a powerful check and balance on mainstream media, we must not let it slip away.

Central Question of Media Reform

The central question of media reform with regard to the transition from analog to digital television is: are we going to get what is in our best interests? After all is said and done, are we going to get any new channels that we can control? When the legislation that gets passed under the banner of "media reform" is implemented are we going to have something tangible to show for it that answers the complaint of most Americans: the network news is not fair and balanced. We must provide for ourselves an effective counter balance that puts decision making power in the hands of the American citizens. A check and balance on the power of the current media elites.

The central question of media reform with regard to the transition from analog to digital television is: are we going to get what is in our best interests? After all is said and done, are we going to get any new channels that we can control? When the legislation that gets passed under the banner of "media reform" is implemented, are we going to have something tangible that answers the complaint of most Americans: the network news is not fair and balanced? We must provide for ourselves an effective counter balance that puts decision making power in the hands of the American citizens. A check and balance on the power of the current media elites.

text of flyer handed out at The National Conference for Media Reform: [with new comments added]

The problem of Big Media can be solved by establishing a Fair Media [using legislative power, a "Fair Media Act" which is what FairMedia.org is all about: "Fair Media is a grassroots media reform organization which advocates for a public media system established by a Fair Media Act" ], a system of additional broadcast channels in competition with the current mainstream system. These new television channels will provide the necessary checks and balances on Big Media power. Under this proposal, when we switch from analog to digital television, a portion of the publicly owned broadcasting frequencies will be retained by the American people , held in public trust to serve the public's interests. ["retained" and "held in the public trust" meaning that we use them ourselves as opposed to auctioning them all off. All the airways should remain property of the American people, private interests can lease them from us for a fee.]

As opposed to Big Media, where decisions are made by a select few, a Fair Media will be controlled by the general public. The new channels, free of private control and ownership influences, will compete against the current media system. The decisions about what gets selected and who gets selected to be on these channels will be in the hands of the American people, ensured by decentralized administration and totally open public oversight.

Establishing a Fair Media is powerful media reform, creating a true public forum on publicly owned airwaves. Offer this Fair Media solution to other media activists so they can contribute to it and help make the vision a reality. Any suggestions or questions can be submitted to Fair Media blog or emailed to contact@FairMedia.org

Fair Media Online Store

Fair Media Online Store
Fair Media Fitted T-Shirt
Fair Media Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Fair Media Sweatshirt

The problem of Big Media can be solved

The problem of Big Media can be solved by establishing a Fair Media. The proposal is ten additional broadcast channels in competition with the current mainstream system. These new television channels will provide the necessary checks and balances on Big Media power. Under this proposal, when we switch from analog to digital television, a portion of the publicly owned broadcasting frequencies will be retained by the American people, held in public trust to serve the public's interests.

As opposed to Big Media, where decisions are made by a select few, a Fair Media will be controlled by the general public. The new channels, free of private control and ownership influences, will compete against the current media system. The decisions about what gets selected and who gets selected to be on these channels will be in the hands of the American people, ensured by decentralized administration and totally open public oversight.

Establishing a Fair Media establishes a true public forum on publicly owned airwaves.

We must develop a plan for what the Fair Media system will consist of. One of the first tasks is to offer this Fair Media solution to other media activists so they can contribute to it and help make the vision a reality.

Add your suggestions HERE or http://fightbigmedia.meetup.com/82/boards/ or email suggestions@fairmedia.org

Add Your Suggestions Here

What a Fair Media system should look like? Add your suggestions HERE.
What kinds of shows should be broadcast to serve the public interest?

Media Ownership Video

I taped this and can lend the tape at the The New York City Fight Big Media Meetup:
the link to buy it is here:Media Ownership Product ID: 185309-1

Media Ownership

Event Date: January 27, 2005
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Aired: C-SPAN: January 31, 2005
Length: 58 minutes ( I only taped 47:30 )
Sponsors:  Close Up Foundation
Appearances:
John Milewski
- Host, Close Up Foundation
Ben Scott
- Policy Analyst, Free Press
John Dunbar
- Manager, The Center for Public Integrity
Summary:
Participants talked about the state of the
telecommunications industry, media
ownership regulation, use of the public
airwaves, and the state of public affairs
programming. Following their remarks
they answered questions from the audience.
http://www.fairmedia.org
http://www.freepress.net
http://www.c-span.org
http://www.closeup.org
http://www.publicintegrity.org

concerns about the business of the media

Our Unfree Press: 100 Years of Radical Media Criticism
by Robert W. McChesney, Ben Scott
"The FCC's recent controversial decision to roll back restrictions on media conglomeration produced an outpouring of protest and dissent; more than 700,000 Americans personally registered complaints along with organizations as diverse as NOW and the NRA."

"Must-reading for anyone concerned by corporate consolidation of the media, Our Unfree Press reveals the necessity of a radical revision in our perception of the business of media."

Who replaces FCC's Powell? It's up to You

Michael Powell is quitting. Good riddance. I just sent a letter to President Bush, asking him to appoint a new chairperson who will represent the public interest, not just corporate moguls. It only takes a few minutes. You should send one, too. Go to newFCCchair
Add this to your email:
Please add a fee based on revenue to broadcast licences. Please shut down VOA and use the money towards a Fair Media. http://www.FairMedia.org