|
Washington,
D.C. - In an effort to restore integrity and diversity
to America's media system, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today
introduced the sweeping Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005 (MORA).
Hinchey, who is the chairman and founder of the congressional Future of
American Media (FAM) Caucus, authored the bill to fix what he sees as a
broken media system in the United States in which only a select group of
individuals get to determine what information Americans can receive via
television, newspaper, radio, and other media.
"The current state of todayâs media
system threatens the ability of our democracy to function because it does
not allow for the widest possible dissemination of information from
diverse and antagonistic sources and shrinks the marketplace of ideas,"
Hinchey said. "The Media Ownership Reform Act tackles the issue of media
consolidation head on and implements new standards for a diverse media
that will ensure Americans have access to a wide array of ideas and
information."
MORA is a broad measure that seeks to
undo the massive consolidation of the media that has been ongoing for
nearly 20 years. It restores the Fairness Doctrine, reinstates a national
cap on ownership of radio stations, and lowers the number of radio
stations one company can own in a local market. It further reinstates the
25 percent national television ownership cap, requires regular public
interest reports from broadcasters and provides for more independently
produced programming on television. The bill establishes new public
interest obligations to ensure broadcasters are meeting the needs of local
communities and requires increased and sustained public input and outreach
so that Americans have a voice in the programming they
receive.
"From the recent debate over public
broadcasting, to the uproar that followed when the FCC tried to weaken its
media ownership rules in June 2003, it is clear that Americans want a
diverse media that is responsive to local communities," Hinchey said.
"Unfortunately, the consolidation of the media has created a system that
is less diverse and less responsive to local needs. It is imperative
that the Congress take action to fix this broken media
system."
Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA) is the
principal cosponsor of Hinchey's MORA measure. Now that Hinchey and
Watson have introduced the measure, they plan to recruit other House
members to sponsor the MORA bill.
The FAM Caucus is composed of House
Members who believe in an accountable, diverse, fair, and independent
media. The Caucus, which currently has 20 members, is open to
members of both parties and it neither supports nor opposes any particular
industry stakeholder. The FAM Caucus' goal is to educate members of
Congress and their staff about media issues before Congress and to ensure
that all parties - especially the American public - have a chance to
participate in the critical debate over media
policy.
|