Tips on Filing Comments and Testifying at Hearing Regarding Ownership
(from the Institute for Public Representation)

Whether filing comments (including letters or emails) with the FCC, testifying at a hearing, or talking to a member of Congress, we should advocate for strengthening (or at least retaining) ownership limits and strongly oppose relaxation or repeal of the ownership limits.

To do this, we need to show the HARMS to the public from consolidation. The more specific and detailed the examples you can give, the better. 

Examples of HARMS might include:

• television or radio stations that drop news programs, local programs, religious programs, children’s or family programming, or other programming desired by community members following merger or acquisition of station
• failure of any station (or newspaper) to cover important local issues, such as political races, ballot issues, health issues, issues of concern to minorities, press conferences, activities of local civic organization
• the loss of a unique voice due to the sale of radio or television station that was locally owned or owned by minorities or women
• stations owned by corporate media fail to respond to community complaints about violent or indecent programs, biased reporting, or other concerns
• examples of  how media owners’ economic or political interests have resulted in the censorship of certain points of view or the failure to cover (or cover fairly issues
• examples of how commonly owned stations (or a commonly owned newspaper and broadcast station) carry the same programming or present the same perspectives
• failures of local stations to respond to local emergencies
• loss of jobs at stations or newspapers
• inability of small businesses to buy advertising time due to high prices

It will also be important to counter the industry’s arguments that the market provides ample diversity and competition.

• organizations that have been unable to get broadcast stations or cable systems to carry their public service announcements
• advocacy campaigns unable to get coverage of local issues on broadcast or cable
• persons who sought to own broadcast station unable to apply for or purchase station
• local musicians unable to get airplay
• stations refusing to sell advertising time for “controversial” messages
• examples of why the internet is not a substitute for coverage in local newspapers or on broadcast stations