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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: 
 August  21,  2003  Stacy  Robinson  (202)  418-  2400 
 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  KATHLEEN  Q.  ABERNATHY 
 SUPPORTING  LOCALISM  INITIATIVE 


 I  applaud  Chairman  Powell  for  taking  positive  and  substantive  steps  to  ensure  that  broadcasters  continue  to  further  the  goal  of  localism  in  their  communities.  Regardless  of  who 
 owns  a  station  –  a  local  “mom  and  pop”  or  a  large  media  company  –  each  licensee  has  an  obligation  to  serve  its  local  community.  Recently,  concerns  have  been  raised  about  whether 
 certain  practices  do  indeed  serve  local  interests,  and  whether  the  Commission  can  do  more  to  promote  localism  in  television  and  radio.  Thus,  I  am  pleased  that  the  Commission  will  consider 
 whether  changes  in  our  rules,  consistent  with  First  Amendment  principles,  are  appropriate  and  needed.  I  look  forward  to  working  with  the  Localism  Task  Force,  my  colleagues,  public  interest 
 groups,  and  the  industry  to  see  how  we  can  together  advance  this  important  goal. 


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