STATEMENT OF
FCC CHAIRMAN KEVIN MARTIN
PUBLIC HEARING ON LOCALISM
PORTLAND, MAINE
JUNE 28, 2007
Many thanks to all of you for participating in the Commission’s fifth hearing on 
localism.  Your thoughts about this issue are very important to us.  I am sorry that I could 
not be with you today, but your participation in this process is very important and all of 
your comments will be submitted into the record.  
Establishing and maintaining a system of local broadcasting that is responsive to 
the unique interests and needs of individual communities is an extremely important 
policy goal for the Commission.  Indeed, along with competition and diversity, localism 
is one of the three goals underlying the media ownership rules. The Commission is 
currently engaged in a review of those rules and the testimony heard today along with 
that from previous localism hearings will inform the Commission’s decision-making in 
the media ownership proceeding. 
I also know that localism is important to broadcasters who recognize that their 
own success depends on responding to the needs and interests of their local communities. 
Once again, the Commission has arranged for a well-respected and 
knowledgeable group of witnesses to participate in our hearing.  I thank them for their 
participation and also thank the many members of the public who will also be sharing 
their thoughts and concerns about how broadcasters are serving the needs and interests of 
their communities.  I look forward to our next, and final, localism hearing that will be 
held in Washington, DC later this year.