TAKE ACTION: CALL FEINSTEIN'S OFFICE TODAY AND TELL HER TO CO-SPONSOR S. 1046!

PHONE: (202) 224-3841

FAX: (202) 228-3954

CA PHONE NUMBERS: 415/393-0707 (San Francisco); 310/914-7300 (Los

Angeles)

EMAIL (

through Feinstein?s website):

http://feinstein.senate.gov/email.html

BACKGROUND INFO

On June 2, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to meet the

demands of big media corporations and allow a handful of them to own even

more media outlets than they already have. We have already seen the effects

of the 1996 media deregulation: five television companies--General Electric

(MSNBC and NBC), News Corp (Fox), Disney (ABC), AOL-Time Warner (CNN),

and Viacom (CBS)--have a stranglehold on what information the public gets

to know, and corporate radio behemoths like Clear Channel Communications

devour local radio stations and replace them with McRadio.

If the FCC decision is allowed to stand, the situation will get even

worse‹competition, diversity, and local content in media will be

undermined in communities across the country.

The good news is that on June 19, the Senate Commerce Committee

responded to the public outcry against the FCC decision. It approved Se

nate Bill

S.1046, and added several amendments that, if approved and passed into law,

could address the creation of a more independent and less monopolized media.

Now our job is to get our Senators and Representatives to act on our

behalf and support this legislation. The first step is to get as many Senators

as possible to co-sponsor S. 1046. So far, there are 35 co-sponsors of the

legislation. California Senator Barbara Boxer became a co-sponsor after

thousands of calls from her constituents. But Sen. Dianne Feinstein's

name is conspicuously absent from the list!

ACT NOW!

Tens of millions of Americans have been awakened to the reality that

media ownership decisions are integral to the protection of communities,

cultural diversity, and democracy itself. Please call Sen. Feinstein?s office

today and insist that she represent her constituents by co-sponsoring and

actively supporting S. 1046.

If you would rather send an email, a sample letter is below. You must

se

nd the email through Sen. Feinstein's website:

http://feinstein.senate.gov/email.html

SAMPLE EMAIL/LETTER

Dear Sen. Feinstein,

I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor S. 1046, the bill that would

overturn parts of the recent FCC decision to give more power to media

corporations. Our democracy depends on an independent and diverse media that will

inform people about the issues that affect our lives. The recent FCC vote

jeopardizes this lynchpin of our democracy.

A single media company should not be allowed to own two local TV broadcast

stations (three in the largest markets), the leading newspaper, the  local

cable company, and a large number of radio stations in one market.  The

FCC was wrong to allow it. You have the opportunity to preserve the

diversity of owners and viewpoints that makes our democratic system function.

On June 19, the Senate Commerce Committee took the first step to overturn

the FCC decision. It approved Senate Bill S.1046, and added several

amend

ments that, if approved and passed into law, could address the

creation of a more independent and less monopolized media.

I am surprised that you are not among the 35 co-sponsors of S. 1046 and

urge you to support this and other legislation that would overturn the new

FCC media ownership rules. Californians do not want fewer companies

controlling most of our media.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on the recent FCC decision, legislation to

overturn the

decision, and media ownership issues, see these websites:

Free Press: www.mediareform.net

Reclaim the Media: www.reclaimthemedia.org

To read the statements of the FCC Commissioners who voted against the

new media ownership rules, see:

FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein's Statement:

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0602-13.htm

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps' Statement

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0602-14.htm

This action alert is being circulated by Global Exchange

(http://www.g

lobalexchange.org) and Media Alliance

(http://www.media-alliance.org).