*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 31930* NEWS News media Information 202 / 418- 0500 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov 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). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS: October 3, 2003 Michelle Russo (202) 418- 2358 Meribeth McCarrick (202) 418- 0654 FCC LOCALISM TASK FORCE ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE OF HEARINGS AND LISTS FULL MEMBERSHIP OF TASK FORCE RM- 10803 Washington, D. C. – The Federal Communications Commission’s Localism Task Force today announced a schedule of six public hearings it will hold to solicit input from consumers, industry, civic organizations and others regarding broadcast localism. Each hearing will be chaired by one or more Commissioners. An important focus of the hearings will be to gather information and to conduct outreach for the nationwide round of broadcast station license renewals that is just beginning. The locations and dates for the public hearings are as follows: Charlotte, North Carolina October 2003 San Antonio, Texas December 2003 Santa Cruz/ Salinas, California March 2004 Rapid City, South Dakota April 2004 Portland, Maine May 2004 Washington, D. C. June 2004 The first hearing will be held on October 22, 2003, in the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Government Center Meeting Chamber at 600 East Fourth Street in Charlotte, North Carolina. Further details on each hearing will be released in the near future. The FCC Localism Task Force initiative was established by FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell on August 20, 2003. The Task Force will conduct studies to measure localism and the efficacy of the FCC’s localism- related rules; organize a series of public hearings on localism; advise the Commission on recommendations to Congress relating to the licensing of thousands of additional low power FM radio stations; make recommendations to the Commission in the Fall of 2004 on how the Commission can promote localism in television and radio; and advise the Commission on legislative recommendations to Congress that would strengthen localism. When Chairman Powell announced the formation of the Task Force in August, he appointed as Co- Chairs Michele Ellison, Deputy General Counsel, Office of General Counsel and Robert Ratcliffe, Deputy Chief, Media Bureau. Today, the Task Force announced the following additional members of the Task Force. All members of the Task Force are FCC staff. 1 - more - Task Force Chief of Staff Royce Sherlock Chief, Industry Analysis Division, Media Bureau Task Force Special Counsel Eric Bash Attorney Advisor, Policy Division, Media Bureau Kimberly Reindl Attorney Advisor, Office of General Counsel Elizabeth Valinoti Attorney Advisor, Industry Analysis Division, Media Bureau Harry Wingo Special Counsel, Office of General Counsel Task Force Members Simon Wilkie Chief Economist, Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis Linda Blair Deputy Chief, Enforcement Bureau Richard Diamond Deputy Director, Office of Media Relations Jonathan Levy Deputy Chief Economist, Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis Renée Licht Deputy Director, Office of the Managing Director Kris Monteith Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Jerry Duvall Chief, Economic Research, Media Bureau Mary Beth Murphy Chief, Policy Division, Media Bureau Judith Herman Assistant Chief, Industry Analysis Division, Media Bureau Roger Holberg Assistant Chief, Industry Analysis Division, Media Bureau Marilyn Sonn Assistant General Counsel, Administrative Law Division, Office of General Counsel Lori Holy Attorney Advisor, Office of Legislative Affairs Janice Wise Program & Information Specialist, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau While the Localism Task Force is an internal FCC organization, it will seek participation by members of the public, broadcasters, civic organizations, academics, local governments and any other interested individuals or institutions as it conducts its review of broadcast localism. To facilitate public input, the Task Force has established a filing number (RM- 10803) for submission of comments or other information via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System. Instructions for submitting comments are attached and are also available at www. fcc. gov/ cgb/ ecfs. For additional information concerning the Task Force visit the Task Force’s web site at http:// www. fcc. gov/ localism, or contact the Task Force directly at (202) 418- 7777, or at localism@ fcc. gov. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), contact Brian Millin, of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418- 7426 (voice) or (202) 418- 7365 (TTY), or at bmillin@ fcc. gov. This News Release can also be downloaded in Text and ASCII formats at: http:// www. fcc. gov/ mb or http:// www. fcc. gov/ localism. - FCC - 2