*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 43529.doc* 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 contact: October 28, 2004 Jordan Goldstein at (202) 418- 2000 Johanna Shelton at (202) 418- 2300 FCC COMMISSIONERS COPPS AND ADELSTEIN ANNOUNCE MEDIA CONCENTRATION FORUM IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Commissioners Michael J. Copps and Jonathan S. Adelstein announced today that they will hold a forum on media concentration at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. The hearing is being held Thursday, December 9, 2004, from 7: 00 PM to 10: 30 PM in Sundin Music Hall on the Hamline campus. The purpose of the hearing is to give citizens outside of Washington, DC, an opportunity to voice their opinions about media consolidation. Last June, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the FCC’s plan to weaken its media ownership protections. As the FCC begins the process of revising its media concentration rules, Copps and Adelstein announced they will attend hearings in cities and towns across America to seek public input. These meetings will build on the nearly twenty forums that Copps and Adelstein have attended on this topic over the past year and a half. Commissioner Copps and Adelstein stated, “We have now heard from the court, the Congress and the American people that the Commission got it wrong when it tried to unleash further consolidation of our local media. The Commission now has a second chance to do the right thing. Field hearings will serve as a critical first step in laying the foundation for media ownership rules that serve the public interest. There is no substitute for the perspective and information that could be obtained by getting outside the Beltway and going to varied local media markets. “We have been seeking full Commission hearings since last summer. In the absence of such hearings, we are moving forward to organize this forum in St. Paul. Given the significance of these issues to our country and our democracy, we are hopeful that our colleagues will join us in St. Paul and at other forums across America.” The hearing is open to the public and all interested persons are invited to attend. There will be an opportunity for members of the general public to make comments. - FCC - 1