RICHARD J. DURBIN CQMMITIEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
ILLINOIS
ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER 'illnitcd ~nltCS ~cnBtC
t'Uoshingron, jE)l[ 20510-])01
October 4th, 2011
COMMITIEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE ON RULES
AND ADMINISTRATION
Chairman Genachowski
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
I write to encourage you to include the impact that media
ownership consolidation in television broadcasting has had on
maintaining delivery of local news, weather, and community information
in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) future Quadrennial
Media Ownership reviews.
The FCC's broadcast media ownership rules are designed to foster
three primary goals - competition, localism, and diversity of voices.
Free over-the-air television broadcasters have been meeting these
goals for decades by providing important, and at times life-saving,
information to local community members who may have no other sources
for local information. Indeed, it has been the television
broadcaster's local focus that has distinguished their service from
most other sources of information available. In many areas, the
reporters, anchors, and other members of the production staff feel a
personal obligation to the region that furthers the service they
provide to the local community.
It has come to my attention that in some situations a single
owner of multiple television broadcast stations that cover several
geographical areas has tested moving local news and weather production
out of the locality and even out of the state. This raises serious
concerns regarding the ability of television broadcasters to respond
quickly to developing news stories or rapidly changing weather
conditions.
Consolidation in broadcast media has been ongoing for several
years but has been matched by the emergence of new sources of
information available primarily via the internet. And while there is
a reasonable place for economies of scale and reducing duplication of
work, removing the local focus from free over-the-air broadcasting
lessens the value and utility of the broadcast for those in the
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service area. Including more detailed analysis of the impact media
ownership rules and consolidation in free over-the-air broadcasting
has had on the delivery of local news and weather in the FCC's
continual evaluation of media ownership rules will help better shape
long term policy.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
R spectfully,
"Oha~d .~
United States Senator
RJD/tr