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 LOS  ANGELES  AND  EL  SEGUNDO  MEDIA  OWNERSHIP  FIELD  HEARINGS  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  DEBORAH  TAYLOR  TATE 
 How  appropriate  it  is  that  we  are  here  at  USC  as  we  hold  the  first  of  six  public  hearings  around  the  country  in  conjunction  with  the  Commission’s  ongoing  review  of  its  broadcast 
 ownership  rules.  This  process  will  help  determine  what  the  media  marketplace  of  the  future  –  the  marketplace  of  greatest  import  to  today’s  students  –  will  look  like. 


 The  issues  involved  are  critically  important  to  our  society.  How  do  our  younger,  media-  and  technology-  savvy  citizens  get  their  news  and  information?  What  do  we  make  of  the 
 phenomenal  growth  of  blogs,  vlogs,  and  podcasts,  which  were  just  emerging  when  the  FCC  completed  its  last  review  of  the  rules?  What  is  the  significance  of  the  increasing 
 rate  of  broadband  penetration  and  the  resulting  transformation  of  the  Internet  into  a  platform  for  streaming  full-  length  video  programming?  How  has  consolidation  affected 
 the  production  of  content,  such  as  children’s  and  family-  friendly  programming?  There  are  many,  many  other  questions  we  need  to  ask  and  have  answered. 


 I  am  particularly  glad  to  have  our  first  hearing  in  Los  Angeles,  the  nation’s  second  largest  media  market  and  one  of  its  most  diverse.  And,  of  course,  it  is  the  heart  of  the  American 
 film  and  television  industry,  with  Hollywood  just  around  the  corner.  This  dynamic  market,  with  representatives  of  every  step  in  the  creative  process,  should  provide  a  great 
 case  study  for  examining  the  impact  of  our  current  rules  and  determining  what  changes  we  need  to  make. 


 The  public’s  full  involvement  in  this  process  is  essential,  and  I  commend  the  Chairman  for  his  leadership  in  committing  to  hold  these  hearings.  Even  if  you  are  not  able  to  join 
 us  in  person,  I  hope  that  you  will  participate  by  filing  comments  electronically  by  going  to  www.  fcc.  gov/  cgb/  ecfs.  The  information  you  provide  will  help  guide  us  as  we  seek  to 
 strike  the  right  balance  between  broadcasters’  need  to  compete  in  an  increasingly  competitive  media  marketplace  and  our  commitment  to  localism  and  diversity. 


 Thank  you  to  all  those  here  at  USC  and  to  our  FCC  staff  who  worked  so  hard  to  make  this  hearing  possible.  I  look  forward  to  hearing  from  our  distinguished  panelists  and 
 from  the  members  of  the  public  who  are  with  us  today. 
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