The Federal Communications Commission has scheduled its final hearing in Seattle this Friday, pending the heavily contested proposal to relax media cross-ownership in local markets.
The Republican dominated FCC and its chairman, Kevin Martin, have come under fire this week after announcing the hearing just five business days in advance.
Grassroots media advocacy groups, and others opposing media consolidation, are calling the spur of the moment hearing an attempt to push the commission's desired legislation with limited public involvement.
“It shows there is a preordained outcome," Democratic FCC Commissioner Michael Copps was quoted in The Seattle Times.
The proposal, backed by most large media outlets, seeks to ease current limits on how many companies a single company can own in a local market. Current rules prohibit a company from owning both a newspaper and television station in the same city.
Opponents assert that further consolidation suppresses competition, reduces diversity, and creates news that's out of touch with locals. Supporters say, according to the Times, that the rules are outdated in the current media market place.
The Seattle Times calls its city a 'hotbed' of opposition to further monopolization. At past hearings on the issue, it reports, hundreds showed up to protest.
The Seattle hearing, scheduled for Nov. 9 at the cities Town Hall, will be the last the FCC will host on the topic. Chairman Kevin Martin is predicted to support further consolidation.
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