JAY INSLEE
1ST DISTRICT, WASHINGTON
COMMITIEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
ENERGY AND POWER
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February 9, 2012
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chainnan
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chainnan Genachowski:
SHORELINE CENTEA
16560 1st Avenue, NE, Suite E--.eOO
Shoreline, WA 98155-2150
(206) 361--0233
Fax: (2061 361-3959
17791 FJORD DRIVE, NE, DOOR 112
POU~SBO,WA 98370
(360) 598-2342
FAX: (3601 598--3650
2329 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC 20515-4701
(202) 225-6311
FAX: j202) 226-1606
We are writing to encourage the Commission to solicit additional feedback from the public on
the agency's recent proposal to relax its media ownership protections. We believe that the
proposed loosening ofmedia ownership rules deserves a full and proper public field hearing with
the full Commission in attendance. It is critical that the agency's chiefdecision makers hear
directly from the public and stakeholders outside ofthe Washington DC regarding how the
proposed rule changes may affect the local media landscape.
In particular, we note that the Seattle market is one that would be impacted by the Commission's
proposed revision to the newspaper broadcast cross ownership rule. The Seattle media market is
ranked #12 in the nation and falls within the delineation point chosen by the Commission to
allow greater consolidation oflocal TV stations and daily newspapers. This type ofconsolidation
also has the potential to create additional hurdles for female and minority owners - already
severely underrepresented in Seattle and across the Nation. With such dramatic consequences at
stake for the people ofWashington, we invite you and your fellow Commissioners to attend a
hearing in Seattle in the coming months.
While the Commission's practice ofholding local hearings on this issue is well-established, it
has yet to hold similar public hearings in the context ofthe 20I0 media ownership proceeding.
During the 2006 media ownership review, the Commission held no less than halfa dozen official
hearings across the country with the full Commission in attendance. In 2006 and 2007, the city of
Seattle hosted two well-attended public events on the issue ofmedia ownership rules where a
wealth ofpassionate testimony was provided.
As you may be aware, the 2007 hearing in Seattle was met with considerable criticism because
the Commission provided only five days notice and conducted no community outreach to
encourage attendance by the public. Moreover, it ultimately came to light that fonner Chainnan
Martin had already decided to relax the media ownership rules even before the 2007 Seattle
hearing was held. As a consequence, the Commission received a sharp rebuke from the U.S.
PRINT Ell ON RECYCLED PAPER
Court ofAppeals that last summer threw out the FCC's decision to relax its cross-ownership
rule.
We urge you not to repeat these past mistakes and invite the full Commission to attend a Seattle
hearing on this issue in early April or early May ofthis year. We are extending this invitation
well in advance so that adequate time and notice can be provided to give the people ofSeattle a
meaningful opportunity to attend and participate in a hearing on this issue.
Thank you for your consideration ofour invitation and we look forward to your visit in the near
future.
Sincerely,
~~~~c
MARIA CANTWELL
United States Senate
cc:
Commissioner Robert M. McDowell
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
'::.-