Hinchey Introduces Sweeping Reform Bill To Restore Integrity To America's Media System

Hinchey Introduces Sweeping Reform Bill To Restore Integrity To America's Media System
July 14, 2005

Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005 Would End Media Consolidation, Provide For Wide Array Of Information Sources To Public

Washington, D.C. - In an effort to restore integrity and diversity to America's media system, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today introduced the sweeping Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005 (MORA). Hinchey, who is the chairman and founder of the congressional Future of American Media (FAM) Caucus, authored the bill to fix what he sees as a broken media system in the United States in which only a select group of individuals get to determine what information Americans can receive via television, newspaper, radio, and other media.

"The current state of today's media system threatens the ability of our democracy to function because it does not allow for the widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources and shrinks the marketplace of ideas," Hinchey said. "The Media Ownership Reform Act tackles the issue of media consolidation head on and implements new standards for a diverse media that will ensure Americans have access to a wide array of ideas and information."

MORA is a broad measure that seeks to undo the massive consolidation of the media that has been ongoing for nearly 20 years. It restores the Fairness Doctrine, reinstates a national cap on ownership of radio stations, and lowers the number of radio stations one company can own in a local market. It further reinstates the 25 percent national television ownership cap, requires regular public interest reports from broadcasters and provides for more independently produced programming on television. The bill establishes new public interest obligations to ensure broadcasters are meeting the needs of local communities and requires increased and sustained public input and outreach so that Americans have a voice in the programming they receive.

"From the recent debate over public broadcasting, to the uproar that followed when the FCC tried to weaken its media ownership rules in June 2003, it is clear that Americans want a diverse media that is responsive to local communities," Hinchey said. "Unfortunately, the consolidation of the media has created a system that is less diverse and less responsive to local needs. It is imperative that the Congress take action to fix this broken media system."

Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA) is the principal cosponsor of Hinchey's MORA measure. Now that Hinchey and Watson have introduced the measure, they plan to recruit other House members to sponsor the MORA bill.

The FAM Caucus is composed of House Members who believe in an accountable, diverse, fair, and independent media. The Caucus, which currently has 20 members, is open to members of both parties and it neither supports nor opposes any particular industry stakeholder. The FAM Caucus' goal is to educate members of Congress and their staff about media issues before Congress and to ensure that all parties - especially the American public - have a chance to participate in the critical debate over media policy.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny22_hinchey/morenews/071405mediabill.html