This is way OT and something I am not fond of doing on mailing lists, but it is important this message gets out to everyone. Please forgive this intrusion. The FCC is going to vote (a five member board, 3 republicans and 2 dems.) on changing a rule that will have an incredible affect on your television, radio, media and internet. And, I do mean incredible. The law currently will not allow any one corporation or individual to own more than 35% of any one market area in the US. These companies/individuals can not buy all the television stations or all of the radio stations, etc., in the San Francisco valley or Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan area for example. On June 2nd, the FCC is going to decide if this rule should be abolished as old fashioned. But what they do not want you to know, and the reason why there has been so little about this pending action brought to you by the major networks is that it would be good for some businesses. Loads of profits, more than currently being realized by such corporations as Clear Channel and independent voices in these mediums would be lost. Just look at the Discovery Networks to see what I mean. Here are two examples of what has happened already: In a small town in the Midwest, a train derailed with toxic chemicals and the cloud vapors were being blown toward this town. The authorities tried to warn everyone by calling the local radio station. No one home. The radio station was bought up by a big conglomerate, everyone fired and the station became robotic. No one home. The cloud drifted through town with very few people knowing about the danger. A famous actor was on a local morning news show on a major network. He began to criticize the current administration, and the war in Iraq. The station manager got a call by the owner of that station and was told to pull the actor. They raised the background music levels until you were not able to hear the actor's comments and then they went to black. The station's owner was supporter and did not want that kind of discussion on His station. If the FCC gets their way, you will see this more and more. The democratic voice will be lost, and choices will be limited. Just because you have 200 channels, does not mean choice. Just look at the Discovery Networks to see what I mean. Some other comments can be found here: http://www.civilrightsforum.org/061599-04.html http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/mediatimeline.html http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/050203e.shtml Here is where you can at least make your voice heard: newfcc@fcc.gov Don't get caught un-aware. Send an email to the FCC before June 2nd. Take care, Gregory david Stempel FIREFRAMEi m a g i n g www.americanphotojournalist.com
