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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322  FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT: 
 July  2,  2003  Johanna  Mikes:  (202)  418-  2300 
 FCC  COMMISSIONER  ADELSTEIN  DISSENTS  FROM  MEDIA  OWNERSHIP  DECISION 
 Washington  –  Commissioner  Adelstein  issued  a  39-  page  dissent  today  to  the  Commission’s  June  2  nd  media  ownership  decision. 
 Adelstein  said  “Public  outrage  from  all  sides  of  the  political  spectrum  continues  to  mount  against  the  FCC’s  decision  to  allow  further  media  concentration.  We’ve  now  heard  from  nearly 
 2  million  people,  almost  all  opposed  to  the  decision,  an  unprecedented  outpouring  of  public  concern.  Yet  we  march  ahead  with  our  new  rules.  I’m  disappointed  my  colleagues  have  refused 
 to  suspend  the  effective  date  of  the  new  rules,  despite  the  overwhelming  public  reaction  and  ongoing  Congressional  deliberations  to  overturn  the  decision.  Now  is  the  time  for  the  FCC  to 
 reconsider  the  rule  changes  on  its  own  in  recognition  that  it  acted  against  the  public  interest. 
 Today,  I  released  an  extensive  dissent,  outlining  my  substantive  concerns  with  the  decision  and  explaining  that  my  vote,  along  with  the  concerns  of  millions  of  our  citizens,  is 
 based  on  more  than  hyperbole  and  irrational  fear.  In  gutting  longstanding  media  ownership  consumer  protections,  the  FCC  took  no  steps  to  assure  that  any  benefits  will  flow  to  the  public 
 from  allowing  the  media  to  get  more  concentrated.  There  is  no  assurance  whatsoever  that  broadcasting’s  public  interest  focus  will  be  preserved. 


 When  used  to  serve  the  public  who  own  the  airwaves,  our  broadcast  media  can  uplift  and  edify  our  society,  and  invigorate  our  democracy.  But  free  use  of  the  public  airwaves  only 
 benefits  the  public  to  the  extent  that  those  who  control  it  are  committed  to  enriching  society  and  not  just  themselves.  If  reduced  to  mere  flickering  lights  or  soundwaves  solely  designed  to  attract 
 advertisers,  our  broadcast  media  won’t  illuminate  much.” 
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