Ellington

Most panelists and audience members voiced opposition to loosening federal rules governing media ownership at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hearing held in the HUB Friday.

The field hearing drew more than 200 government officials, media executives and concerned citizens. It also gave FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein a look at Seattle opinions on an issue expected to significantly impact the future of media nationally and locally.

The FCC is reviewing regulations limiting media ownership, including rules that govern cross-ownership between broadcast TV companies and newspapers in the same communities and the number of local TV and radio stations a broadcaster can own. The FCC is expected to make a decision this spring.

"No issue pending before the FCC matches in importance the decision that we're going to make this spring," Copps said in his opening remarks.

Seattle City Councilman Jim Compton, the first panelist to offer his views, set the tone for the hearing by vehemently opposing media conglomerates.

"I believe that the airwaves belong to the people of the United States," said Compton.

Compton, who worked in the media industry for 32 years, recalled a day when media ownership had roots in the community.

U.S. Congressman Jay Inslee, D-Washington, echoed Compton's sentiment.

"If you remove the laws against consolidation, you will get more consolidation. This seems to be a conclusion even Oregon Ducks could reach, I hope," said Inslee, a UW alumnus, to an amused audience.

Frank Blethen, publisher of The Seattle Times, also spoke against conglomerates.

"How quickly America's newsrooms have transformed from democracy's watchdogs into corporate lapdogs," said Blethen.

He also noted the lack of coverage of the event by TV networks.

Dave Lougee, general manager of Seattle's division of Belo Corp., the owner of Seattle's NBC affiliates, KING and KONG, was one of the few who articulated support for the deregulation of media.

"Neither I nor any other member of KING's management team have ever been pressured or influenced by the company on any news-content decision. Not once, not ever," said Lougee.

The dissent surrounding media consolidation spilled outside with events on the HUB lawn organized by Seattle Alliance for Media Education (SAME) in conjunction with Reclaim the Media, a regional media-activism group.

SAME, a group affiliated with the UW Department of Education, was formed in the fall of last year to educate youth about the media. Although it is not a registered-student organization, students comprise two-thirds of the group.

Sharon Larson, director of law, commerce and technology at the UW School of Law, also delivered opening remarks, praising the FCC for holding the hearing outside of Washington, D.C.

"But as you know, Mr. Copps, Washington, D.C., tends to be a supply-and-demand type of town, and here you're going to be hearing from the demand side," said Larson.

Larson was astounded by how many attended the hearing.

"It is terribly significant that this many people turned out. I'm surprised this issue has resonance in the community," Larson said after the event.