May 15, 2003 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4179 Democratic Representatives who cur- THE GROWING CONCENTRATION OF We have heard from musicians. We rently serve in those districts, to be re- MEDIA OWNERSHIP have heard from a wide spectrum of elected. That is not what we call de- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under people who say what America is about mocracy, Mr. Speaker. That is what we the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- is freedom, and we cannot have free- call a very partisan power grab. uary 7, 2003, the gentleman from dom if we do not have a clash of ideas. The heroes from the State House of Vermont (Mr. SANDERS) is recognized And it will be very dangerous for this Representatives in Texas who went to for 60 minutes as the designee of the country when a tiny number of multi- Ardmore, Oklahoma, this week have minority leader. multibillion-dollar international con- been criticized by many on the other Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, in my glomerates own virtually all of our side of the aisle. They have said that view the issue that I and some of my newspapers, all of our radio stations, they should be in Austin carrying out colleagues are about to discuss, which all of our television stations, all of our the people’s business, they should be is concentration of ownership in the book publishing companies, all of the there to vote on the legislation which media and the implications of more companies that produce the films that is before them. But interestingly, I media deregulation as proposed by the we observe. heard none of those same complaints Bush administration and FCC Chair- At issue now is the FCC’s review of just last week when the majority lead- man Michael Powell, is one of the very rules that seek to protect localism so er of this body decided it was more im- most important issues facing this that back home they will have local portant to be in Austin, Texas, to lobby country. One of the ways that we can news, that there will be a local radio for his secret redistricting plan instead know how important this issue is is station telling them what is going on of being here in Washington, D.C., precisely by how relatively little media in their community, that will preserve along with the rest of us voting on the attention has been paid to it. The competition and diversity. These rules, legislation which was before us. I heard growing concentration of corporate among other things, currently limit a nobody from the other side of the aisle ownership of media in the United single corporation from dominating rise to the podium and say the major- States is in fact one of the least dis- local TV markets. Do people want to ity leader should be here in Wash- cussed major issues in this country be- live in a community where all of the ington, D.C., carrying on and rep- cause the media itself is in a major local television stations are owned by resenting his district back home. conflict of interest and chooses not to one company? These rules that we have f discuss it. in place right now will prevent the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a As bad as the situation is today, and merging of local television stations, previous order of the House, the gen- when we examine this chart we will radio stations, and a newspaper. Do tleman from Texas (Mr. RODRIGUEZ) is find out how bad it is, how few major people want to live in a community recognized for 5 minutes. multinational conglomerates like where one company owns their local (Mr. RODRIGUEZ addressed the Viacom, AOL Time Warner, Disney, TV station, owns the newspaper and House. His remarks will appear here- Clear Channel, News Corporation and a owns radio stations? Do they think after in the Extensions of Remarks.) few others, to what degree a few major they are going to hear different points of view when that happens? f corporations control what we see, hear and read, as bad as it is, it is likely to These regulations deal with the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a merging of two major television net- previous order of the House, the gen- become much worse, much more dan- gerous for the future of democracy in works so that we will have just a few tleman from Texas (Mr. GONZALEZ) is this country if, as is proposed on June networks controlling all of the TV sta- recognized for 5 minutes. tions facing our country. Honest people (Mr. GONZALEZ addressed the 2, the FCC votes for further media de- regulation, regulations that have been might have differences of opinion on House. His remarks will appear here- this issue, but one would think that after in the Extensions of Remarks.) on the books for years to protect local- ism, to protect diversity of opinion, to there would be massive amounts of f protect the clash of ideas. public discussion all over America. I The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a Needless to say, there are many peo- can tell the Members that in my small previous order of the House, the gen- ple and many organizations all across State, the State of Vermont, which is tleman from Texas (Mr. STENHOLM) is this country regardless of political ori- one of the smallest States in this coun- recognized for 5 minutes. entation who are strongly opposed to try, we recently had a town meeting on (Mr. STENHOLM addressed the changing these regulations and who do this issue, and 600 people came out to House. His remarks will appear here- not want to see more media consolida- hear FCC Commissioner Michael Copps after in the Extensions of Remarks.) tion in this country. Millions of Ameri- talk about that issue. We should be f cans do not want to see the handful of having town meetings like that all The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a corporations who determine what we over America, and in my view and in previous order of the House, the gentle- see, hear and read become three, be- the view of many of us in Congress, the woman from Texas (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE come two, become one perhaps as a re- FCC should delay making any decisions JOHNSON) is recognized for 5 minutes. sult of mergers and takeovers. These on June 2 and let the American people (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of groups range across the political spec- get involved in the process. Texas addressed the House. Her re- trum from progressive groups to con- Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege now marks will appear hereafter in the Ex- servative groups. According to the As- to yield to the gentlewoman from Cali- tensions of Remarks.) sociated Press yesterday, and I quote, fornia (Ms. WOOLSEY) who has been very active on this issue. I thank the f ‘‘The National Rifle Association joined the ranks of consumer groups, musi- gentlewoman for being with us. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank previous order of the House, the gen- cians, writers and academics who op- pose easing the restrictions. the gentleman for yielding. tleman from Texas (Mr. REYES) is rec- Mr. Speaker, I am here today to join ognized for 5 minutes. b 1530 my colleagues and to thank the gen- (Mr. REYES addressed the House. His ‘‘The NRA asked its members to tleman from Vermont (Mr. SANDERS) remarks will appear hereafter in the write Powell,’’ that is the FCC Chair- for pulling this evening together so Extensions of Remarks.) man, ‘‘and lawmakers in support of the that we can speak out against a threat f existing rules, said Wayne LaPierre, to America. It is not a threat to Amer- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a the NRA’s executive vice president.’’ ican lives, but a threat to American previous order of the House, the gen- Quote from Mr. LaPierre: ‘‘These big values. It is a threat to everything that tleman from Texas (Mr. ORTIZ) is rec- media conglomerates are already push- this Nation stands for, every principle ognized for 5 minutes. ing out diversity of political opinion.’’ that this Nation was founded on, and (Mr. ORTIZ addressed the House. His Further, we have heard recently from every memory of every soldier that has remarks will appear hereafter in the organizations representing black fought and died or been harmed for the Extensions of Remarks.) broadcasters and Latino broadcasters. free exchange of ideas.

VerDate Jan 31 2003 00:54 May 16, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K15MY7.089 H15PT1 H4180 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 15, 2003 Today bureaucrats of the FCC and Since radio ownership regulations many other media outlets. For exam- the overwhelming complacency of this were relaxed under the Telecommuni- ple, this is just Viacom, just Viacom. Congress threaten that freedom. This cations Act in 1996, radio ownership di- When we turn on CBS network, that is past Monday I hosted a forum in my versity has decreased in our Nation by Viacom. We turn on the UPN network, district, which is the two counties at least one-third. In the San Francisco Viacom. MTV, Nickelodeon, TV Land, north of San Francisco across the market alone, seven stations are now CMT, TNN, VH1, Showtime, Movie Golden Gate Bridge. We had a forum owned by Clear Channel Communica- Channel, Sundance Channel, Flick, with Federal Communications Com- tions, seven by Infinity Broadcasting, Black Entertainment, Comedy Central. missioner Michael Copps about his and three by ABC. One would think they are watching dif- agency’s rules on media ownership. Across the Nation 10 companies ferent companies. They are not. That is Nearly 400 of my constituents at 1 broadcast to two-thirds of the Nation’s Viacom. o’clock in afternoon, packed into an radio audience and receive two-thirds They get off the TV now, drive into auditorium at Dominican University in of the broadcast revenues. Hear me: work, turn on the radio. There are 180 San Rafael, were there to declare their Ten companies broadcast to two-thirds Infinity radio stations owned by opinions about what the FCC rules on of the Nation’s audience and receive Viacom. media ownership will mean, and their two-thirds of the broadcast revenues. What about local television stations? opinion was that this is extremely im- That is not okay, and it is going to get We have got the big CBS. What is portant. This is an issue, however, that worse. about the local television stations? has been underreported by the very Has the quality of radio broadcasting They must be locally owned. Wrong. media that will be most affected. improved because of these changes? Is We have 34 stations that Viacom owns In fact, as proof of that very under- there more local programming, more in Philadelphia, in Boston, in Dallas, in reporting, yesterday over a dozen con- local news, a greater variety of pro- Detroit, Miami, Pittsburgh, among cerned Democratic Members of Con- gramming? Is there free flow of infor- other places. gress held a press conference right here mation? Or is there censorship? Just They are in radio. They are in tele- on the Hill on the issue of media con- ask the Dixie Chicks. They know what vision. But at least when I go from the solidation. I suppose no surprise, but censorship is. movies I am getting away from this not one member of the broadcast press Power over ideas should not be sub- corporation, right? Not quite. When we showed up, and until a reporter from ject to individuals with only ideas of watch Paramount Pictures, it is Roll Call, our newspaper here on the profit on their mind. In America ideas Viacom. MTV Films, Viacom. Nickel- Hill, came to experience a press con- are not just another commodity like odeon, Contentville, the Free Press, ference without press, we did not have butter or steel or cloth. Ideas are the MTV books, Nickelodeon books, Simon anybody. So we disbanded and came lifeblood of our Nation. The FCC & Schuster. back in honor of the person that was should be defending the free exchange I am into music now. That is not there from Roll Call. of ideas, not giving corporate execu- Viacom. Wrong. Famous music pub- It reminds me of the cliche about a tives, not always too different from lishers: Pocket Books, Viacom. Star tree falling in the forest. If Members of Enron’s Ken Lay, not giving them the Trek franchise; Scribner’s Publishers, Congress speak out about media owner- power to shut off the flow of ideas to Viacom. Touchstone, Spelling Enter- ship, and the media does not cover the American citizens. tainment, Big Ticket TV, Viacom Pro- event, is democracy already dead? ductions, King World Productions, all No newspaper, radio station, or TV Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I are network is perfect. Allowing single cor- cosponsoring House Resolution 218 that one company. One company. And they porations to monopolize the informa- calls on the FCC to examine and in- say it is not enough. We do not own tion that average Americans receive form the public of the consequences of enough media. We need to own more give big corporations like Rupert the new round of deregulation. It asks media. Break down the regulations so Murdoch and Ted Turner absolutely that the FCC allow for extensive public we can own more television stations, too much power. review and comment on any proposed we can own more book publishing com- On June 2 the Federal Communica- changes to media ownership rules be- panies, and so forth. A very dangerous tions Commission has scheduled a vote fore issuing a final rule. trend. on new regulations that would break The least the FCC and Michael Pow- Now it gives me a great pleasure to down the decades-long firewall between ell can do is allow the people of Amer- yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois media ownership and single markets. ica the opportunity to speak their (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY), clearly one of the Gone will be the prohibition against mind about the elimination of freely outstanding Members of the U.S. House corporations owning newspapers and exchanging ideas. of Representatives. TV stations in the same town or cable I thank the gentleman from Vermont Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I TV networks and TV stations in the for doing this Special Order. thank the gentleman from Vermont same town. Gone also will be the limits Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank (Mr. SANDERS) for giving me this op- on number of TV stations and cable the gentlewoman. portunity because it is not every day stations a corporation can own nation- Before I yield to the gentlewoman of that we get to come down to the floor ally. Illinois (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY), I want to of the House and defend the essentials The threat of a veto by President just emphasize a point that the gentle- of our democracy, to talk about defend- Clinton kept these rules from being woman from California (Ms. WOOLSEY) ing the Constitution of the United changed in 1996, but now under the just made. I think sometimes when States, the first amendment, freedom Bush Administration, FCC Chairman people turn on a television or they pick of speech, freedom of the press. Michael Powell and a Republican ma- up a newspaper, they say, well, a com- It is the very core values of this jority on the Commission that is drunk pany owns this newspaper, and a lot of country that we are talking about on the ideology of the free market, companies put out different news- today. This is definitely the most im- these changes are very likely to be ap- papers, different types of television portant telecommunications issue of proved. stations, and so forth and so on. What our time and, more than that, whether It is a sham and it is a shame that in people are not aware of is the degree, or not ordinary people are going to a Nation of 280 million people, the FCC the number of separate companies that have access to divergent views. This is has held only one official hearing on one large corporation owns. a value that our country has embraced this subject, just outside the Beltway Let me start off with an example and from its beginning that we should have in Virginia. If it was not for the FCC go to Viacom. I suspect that most peo- the opportunity to hear different Commissioners, Commissioner Michael ple have never even heard of Viacom. voices, to get different opinions and Copps and Commissioner Jonathan Who is Viacom? What is Viacom? So make up our own mind. Adelstein, it is really doubtful that let me tell the Members a little bit So I am here today to call on Federal this discussion would have gone beyond about Viacom. Viacom is a huge multi- Communications Commission, its a few lobbyists and public interest ac- national corporation that owns TV sta- Chairman Mr. Powell, and President tivists in the first place. tions, radio stations, TV networks, and Bush to listen to the American people,

VerDate Jan 31 2003 00:54 May 16, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K15MY7.097 H15PT1 May 15, 2003 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4181 to support media diversity and local- antagonistic sources. Media ownership going rates, they are not even allowed ism, and to not allow even more con- diversity is critical to ensuring that we to do that. That is an outrage, that is centration of the media. protect the first amendment. Over the unacceptable, and we are seeing more The Bush administration and the years, the courts have supported the and more of that. FCC have tuned out public voices and belief of Congress that independent If I like your point of view, you can tuned in Rupert Murdoch. I suppose the ownership of media outlets results in buy an ad on my radio station; if I do gentleman will probably talk about more diverse media voices, greater not, sorry, we do not want your money. him, and media barons, because people competition, and more local content. Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. That is exactly need to know who is controlling the Over the last few years, we have seen right. This was not a public service an- messages that they hear when they considerable ownership consolidation nouncement. This was not asking a want to get the news, when they want in the media, while, at the same time, favor of the radio station. This was we to know what is going on in the world we have seen important public interest want to buy an ad that invites people and in our country. protections eliminated. For the first 50 to a public gathering on the issue of most importance in the country at the b 1545 years after the enactment of the 1934 Communications Act, people had a time, and we were not able to buy that People in my district and around the right to petition the FCC if they found ad. They would not sell it to us, even country are demanding that the FCC coverage to be one-sided. We called as its affiliates were organizing pro- hear their voices. That is why just last that the Fairness Doctrine. It required war rallies around the country on the week the Chicago City Council unani- broadcasters to cover issues of public air. mously approved, by a vote of 50 to 0, importance and to do so fairly, until, Yesterday, as has been pointed out, a resolution that urges the FCC to in 1987, under immense pressure from 11 Members of the United States House strengthen existing media ownership the media, it was eliminated. of Representatives, the Democratic rules, not to weaken them. Eliminating the law of the Fairness whip, the Democratic leader of our cau- Today and yesterday I received 1,000 Doctrine, a major blow to consumers, cus, the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. e-mails from my constituents. I am was supposed to be alleviated by a blos- SANDERS), who has been organizing going to read one of them: soming of independent local outlets around this issue of media concentra- Dear Congresswoman Schakowsky, Con- that would expand diversity by increas- tion, an expert on the subject, held a gress shall pass no law restricting the right ing competition. In other words, con- press conference, and nobody came. to free speech. Letting one big business con- sumers would no longer be able to use There was not one TV camera, not one trol all available news organs for any local- ity is a monopoly. Since when do corpora- the Fairness Doctrine to ensure that radio station. Two small print outlets tions have a right to control our free speech? their views were represented on a spe- came, we are grateful to them; but Since when do their rights trump the aver- cific media outlet, but the thought was clearly, a decision was made not to age citizen’s? Is the Bush administration we would be able to present those views cover this. And I want to challenge trying every means conceivable to control through competing media in the same those media giants who did not come our means of debate dissent? market. to explain how that blackout was not I urge you and your colleagues in Congress Unfortunately, the public is now motivated by a conflict of interest. to promote a diverse balance and competi- faced with increased concentration, not Mr. SANDERS. If I could interrupt tive media. Please stop the FCC rule change on June 2nd. increased competition, and no longer for a moment, we are a Nation which, We allow media companies to use the air- has the Fairness Doctrine to fall back as I think everybody knows, is pretty waves in exchange for their assurance that on. The FCC should reinstate the Fair- equally divided. The last election, Mr. they are serving the public interest, and it is ness Doctrine. At the very least they Gore and Mr. Nader received somewhat the FCC’s job to make sure that is so. Please should not even allow more ownership more votes than Mr. Bush and Mr. Bu- hold the FCC to its mandate and oppose the concentration that makes the loss of chanan. Congress is almost equally di- rule change. the Fairness Doctrine more onerous. vided. The Senate is almost equally di- This is from one woman in my dis- Greater media ownership concentra- vided. Polls show a certain number of trict. But imagine now two full reams tion limits the public’s access to di- people are Democrats, an equal number of paper from individuals in my dis- verse viewpoints. are Republicans, and you have a lot of trict with the very same message. They Radio provides an example of what independents out there. This is not an are sounding the alarm. can happen when media ownership extreme right-wing country. It just is A free and open media is essential to rules are abolished. In 1996, Congress not. our democracy. It promotes civic dis- eliminated the national ownership caps I would ask people to think for a mo- cussion, encourages public participa- for radio. The result? Greater consoli- ment about the phenomenon of talk tion and policy debates, ensures rep- dation in the radio industry. In almost radio. In a Nation which is divided resentation of ideological, cultural and half of the largest markets, the three pretty equally politically, people on geographic diversity. I cannot over- largest corporations control 80 percent the left, people on the right, let me state the importance of the FCC’s re- of the radio audience. This has made it just mention the folks who are on talk view of media ownership rules in decid- harder for diverse opinions to be heard. radio: Rush Limbaugh, G. Gordon ing whether the principles of the first Just last month, Clear Channel re- Liddy, Oliver North, Sean Hannity, amendment will be embraced in every- fused to air an advertisement in which Armstrong Williams, Blanquita day reality, or only in theory. I was inviting people to an event that Collum, Michael Savage, Neil Boorts, Media ownership concentration is al- was organized for people who opposed Bob Grant, Bob Dornan, Michael ready a major threat to our democracy. the war in Iraq. It was a gathering, and Medved, Michael Reagan, Matt Drudge, In the last 25 years, the number of TV I wanted a commercial to air on the Laura Schlesinger, Don Imus, Michael station owners has declined from 540 to radio to see if people wanted to come. Graham, Ken Hamblin, Laura 460, and the number of TV newsrooms Clear Channel refused to put that ad- Ingraham, and many, many others. has dropped almost 15 percent. Three- vertisement on the air. What do they have in common? They quarters of cable channels are owned Mr. SANDERS. I am assuming you are all extreme right wing. by only six corporate entities, four of were prepared to pay for that ad? And now let me read you the names which are major TV networks. Seventy Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Absolutely. This of the progressive voices. percent of all markets have four or was a paid-for ad. That is it. There are not any. There fewer sources of original TV news pro- Mr. SANDERS. What we have now, are not any. Liberal voices, virtually duction. In 1965, there were 860 owners and I think people should be aware of none. of daily newspapers. Today there are this, is it a bad situation when the Now, how come in a Nation in which less than 300. media does not provide adequate cov- more people voted for Gore than for The Supreme Court has maintained erage for different points of view, and Bush, there are no national voices that the first amendment is designed that is what we are seeing. What the speaking for working families, speak- to achieve the widest possible dissemi- gentlewoman is saying is that when in- ing for the middle class, speaking for nation of information from diverse and dividuals want to buy time at the the environment, speaking for women’s

VerDate Jan 31 2003 00:54 May 16, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K15MY7.098 H15PT1 H4182 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 15, 2003 rights? No voices. I am not talking very heart of a basic American value. here we have this incredibly important about a minority; I am talking no There are five values actually inscribed rule to American democracy, and what voices. on the bar of the House right behind did the FCC do? What did they do? Is that an accident? Well, as the gen- the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. They are supposed to be working for tlewoman from Illinois (Ms. SANDERS). I can read them. They are us. They held one hearing in Virginia. SCHAKOWSKY) was saying, I do not Union, Justice, Tolerance, Liberty, and Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, after think it is an accident. I think one has that is the one that is in question here, being begged to do that. to be very naive not to see the connec- is the liberty interests of Americans, Mr. INSLEE. After being begged by tion between the large corporations because you cannot have liberty or de- multiple people, they held one hearing who own the media, their desire for mocracy if you do not have multiple 2,500 miles from my district. lower taxes for the rich, their desire to sources of information. Mr. Speaker, the Forest Service, by take American jobs to China, where Clearly, when the rules were amend- contrast, when they considered the people are paid 20 cents an hour, their ed years back to allow further consoli- roadless rule, which is another impor- anti-unionism, their lack of respect for dation in the industry, guess what you tant rule, they held six hearings, mul- the environment, and the fact that got? You got further consolidation in tiple hearings in Washington. This is talk radio is dominated by these right the industry. It is not exactly rocket under the cover of darkness. This wing forces. science that will be required to predict avoids sunlight, which is the best anec- Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. If I could just the results if the FCC allows this fur- dote to any virus of political thought; add, here is the final request I have, ther deregulation of the industry. If and it is a rotten shame the FCC has to and it is so simple, that the Federal they do allow further consolidation in do this under the cover of darkness. Communications Commission, before it the industry, you will have further Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, if I makes a decision on June 2 to allow consolidation in the industry, and might, I would mention to my friend even greater concentration, would when you have further consolidation in that the FCC has a Web site that peo- travel around the country and hold the media industry, you have fewer ple can currently e-mail to, and the more public forums, listen to the peo- real choices to get access to diverse overwhelming majority of people who ple, give an opportunity to the 1,000 opinions. Republican, Democrat, up or are contacting the FCC are saying, do people that wrote to me and the thou- down, left or right, tall or short, you not go forward with more deregulation, sands and millions more who want to will have less real choice. which I find interesting. And the gen- participate in this decisionmaking, let Let me say why that has been borne tleman’s point is well taken. I think their voices be heard. out in real practice. Some of the people that there would be tens of thousands Finally, I want to say, let us con- who have advocated for this change, to of people from California to Maine sider, and I hope pass, House Resolu- allow further consolidation in the in- coming out to these hearings if they tion 218, offered by the gentleman from dustry, to allow the bigger to get big- had the courage to meet the people New York (Mr. HINCHEY), which calls ger and swallow the smaller stations, rather than just talk to the big cor- on the FCC not to weaken current own- have suggested that because, for in- porate bosses. ership rules that protect media diver- stance, there are a lot of radio stations Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, if I may sity, and also calls on the FCC to bet- out there, that in fact there is no dam- report from Seattle what happened, ter examine and inform the public age to the value of liberty and diverse two courageous members of the FCC about the consequences of further opinions. came out and were willing to listen to media concentration and allow the But they forget one very central fact: citizens on their own time a few public to comment on any proposed when you want to know whether there months ago; and over 300 people, I changes. This is the least we can do to is diverse opinion in the media, you think, turned out, once we got a little protect freedom of speech. have to follow a rule, and that rule is bit of the news out. We did not have Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank this: follow the money. You might have much cooperation from the media, of the gentlewoman for all of her efforts 10, 15, 100 radio stations; but if they are course, who about 99.9 percent of them on this issue. I think her appeal is ex- all owned by the same corporation or in the audience were very, very con- actly right. Why should the American individual, you do not have 100 voices. cerned about this further consolida- people not be able to participate in this You have the same person with 100 tion. And I think that voice is an over- debate? megaphones. whelming one across America. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to Does that help American democracy? Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, before I yield to the gentleman from Wash- Does that help diverse opinions? No. It yield to the gentlewoman from Cali- ington (Mr. INSLEE). centralizes it. It reduces the number of fornia (Ms. WATSON), I want to touch Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank voices that America has, and that is on another aspect of this. People may the gentleman for letting me join him. exactly what the empirical evidence say, well, this is outside the Beltway. I think this is perhaps one of the has shown. Maybe Members of Congress are com- most important and least talked about Since the last effort to allow consoli- plaining, they did not get a good story, issues in American democracy during dation in the industry, we have 34 per- they are angry about their lack of this Congress, and it is fascinating to cent fewer owners of radio stations. courage. That is not the issue here. me that an issue that has such large Now, it is of academic interest how The issue here is that in a demo- ramifications, has such a bearing on many stations we have; but we have cratic society, we do not know what Americans’ ability to know what is fewer voices because we have fewer goes on unless all issues of importance going on in their government and their owners of radio stations, and we have are discussed. It is not whether some- world, is such a closely held secret fewer views on the spectrum of polit- body gets a good story or whether they from the American people. The reason ical thought and historic thought and are on TV or not; it is whether whole it is a closely held secret is it is not re- spiritual thought than we should have, segments of American life get the dis- ported in the media. because we allowed more consolida- cussion that they need. This is one of the most important, tion, and we got more consolidation; Now, we know, we know that we have contentious issues. This should make and we have less liberty interests as a seen everything that we ever wanted to great fodder for TV talk shows and result because there are fewer voices in see about Michael Jackson, about all radio talk shows and newspapers. It the spectrum to be heard. the other scandals that we have heard ought to sell a lot of newspapers be- about. But here is an issue that gets cause it is contentious. Yet there is a b 1600 very little discussion. blackout on this subject for the Amer- Now, I want to say just one more We have been told that with all of ican people, and that is why I want to thing, and then I will yield to the gen- the explosion of technology, with the thank the gentleman for doing this tleman from Vermont (Mr. SANDERS). global economy, with the use of com- Special Order to talk about it. To me, a taste of what is coming in puters and e-mails and faxes, what we The reason I came to the floor this the media we have in what we got from are told, which is true, is that the pro- afternoon is I think it strikes at the the FCC, which is a blackout. Because ductivity of the average American

VerDate Jan 31 2003 00:54 May 16, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K15MY7.100 H15PT1 May 15, 2003 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4183 worker has substantially increased. The proposal will allow large media gramming diversity. For example, That is the good news. The bad news is companies to acquire a bigger share of Clear Channel Communications, which that the tens of millions of Americans the national market and more tele- controls over a quarter of the Nation’s today, despite the increase in produc- vision stations in any given local commercial radio market, has insti- tivity, are working longer hours for media market. Other restrictions on tuted homogeneous play lists nation- lower wages. The reality is that in cross-ownership, owning radio stations, wide, eliminated play time for local America we have lost several million TV stations, and newspapers in the musicians, and severely cut back most jobs, decent-paying jobs in the last few same local market will also be lifted. local news services. Black Entertain- years because of a disastrous trade pol- Many of us here in Congress are con- ment Television, after its merger with icy where companies are throwing cerned that the rule changes proposed media giant Viacom, canceled many of American workers out on the street by Chairman Powell have not been its popular public affairs programs, in- and running to China. Have we seen properly vetted for public and congres- cluding ‘‘BET Tonight with Ed Gor- much discussion about that on the TV? sional comment and that their impact don,’’ ‘‘Lead Story,’’ and ‘‘Teen Sum- in the newspapers? I do not think so. on minority media ownership and con- mit.’’ These examples are object les- The reality is, the middle class in tent could be deleterious. Minority sons on how media consolidation can this country is shrinking. The rich are owners and their share of the radio and limit creative voices, dissenting views, becoming richer. The richest 1 percent television market is at an all-time low and consumer choice. Our airways need own more wealth than the bottom 95 due to media consolidation during the to have the widest range of viewpoints percent. How does that touch into the last 2 decades. Chairman Powell’s pro- that are representative of American so- media? What the media does, to a large posed rule changes could provide the ciety. degree, is deflect attention. Here is a knock-out blow, not only to minority So, Mr. Speaker, it is an outrage that scandal, we hope you get involved. ownership, but to a diversity of opin- we would be considering even more Here is a ball game, maybe you are in- ions and viewpoints that are critical to consolidation. Where are our voices terested in that. But do not worry if the free flow of information in a demo- going to be heard? I am very troubled your job goes to China; do not worry if cratic society. with the atmosphere in which we live the minimum wage has not been raised I am very concerned during this pe- in America today, because we are being in years and you are making $5.15 an riod of time that there is a climate muzzled, we are being gagged by the hour. You do not have to worry about that says you cannot say this, you can- big boys, and that is troubling for a that. Do not worry if a pharmaceutical not say that, you cannot dissent. It is democratic system. company has contributed tens of mil- a threat to democracy. Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I want lions of dollars to the Republican Now, as a Member of the Congres- to pick up on a point that the gentle- Party so you end up paying the highest sional Black Caucus, we are getting to woman made. She mentioned Clear prices in the world for prescription Chairman Powell our concerns, because Channel; and some people say yes, well, drugs. You are too dumb to worry the FCC, as a Federal regulatory agen- Clear Channel is a radio network, but about that. We have another scandal cy for mass media communications, they are much more than a radio net- for you. has long-established rules following the work. And the point that I am trying So the issue does relate to the lives 1945 Supreme Court declaration that to make and that all of us have been and well-being of every American in the widest possible dissemination of in- trying to make today, getting back to our country. We have a right. We are formation from diverse and antago- this chart, is that a handful of giant not stupid people. We believe in democ- nistic sources is essential to the wel- media conglomerate corporations are racy. We understand honest people fare of the public; that a free press is a owning more and more of what we see, have differences of opinion, but we condition of a free society. hear, and read; and this is not what a want to be able to discuss the most im- Over the past 2 decades, however, democracy is about. portant issues facing the middle class, many rules designed to enhance diver- I would remind my colleagues in Con- facing working families. And we are sity, competition, and localism have gress and all Americans that in the not able to do that because of the enor- been weakened, creating unprecedented last days of the Soviet Union, which mous conflicts of interest that exist be- consolidation of media sources. For ex- was a totalitarian society, people tween these very, very large corpora- ample, since the passage of the 1996 thought, well, I guess they had one tions. Telecommunications Act, the number newspaper and one television network, Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, if the gen- of radio station owners has decreased and that was it. It was a totalitarian tleman will yield, just one more quick by at least 1,100, representing a 30 per- society. That is wrong. There were doz- point. This is an issue that ought to cent decline. Among the remaining ens and dozens and dozens of different unite Republicans and Democrats. It radio station owners, only 175 minority newspapers, different magazines, dif- really should. I know the gentleman broadcasters owned 426 stations in 2000, ferent television stations, all over the from Vermont (Mr. SANDERS) has or about 4.0 percent of the Nation’s totalitarian Soviet Union. The only talked about talk radio. But I just be- 10,577 commercial AM and FM radio problem was that all of those television lieve, no matter whether you are va- stations. Furthermore, most of these stations, radio stations, newspapers, nilla or chocolate or Neapolitan here, minority owners continue to own AM, and magazines were only controlled by you ought to stand up and say that it rather than FM stations, thus facing either the government of the Soviet is not healthy when America has 20 or limited listenership. Union or the Communist Party. Many, 30 percent less TV stations and half as Minority owners’ share of the com- many different outlets, but limited few newspapers. This should be an all- mercial television market is even more ownership. What we are seeing here is American, bipartisan statement that distressing. As large conglomerates many, many outlets and increasingly America deserves diverse opinions so continued to consolidate ownership of fewer owners. that they can make decisions and do television stations throughout the Let me say a word about News Cor- not have to trust just one. 1990s, only 23 full-power commercial poration; people probably do not know. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman television stations were owned by mi- What is News Corporation? Well, it is for his efforts. norities at the end of the decade, rep- owned by a gentleman named Rupert Mr. SANDERS. And I thank the gen- resenting only 1.9 percent of the coun- Murdoch, who was born in Australia, tleman for his efforts. try’s 1,288 licensed stations. That level part of a newspaper publishing family Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from is the lowest since the tracking of such in Australia. News Corporation today California (Ms. WATSON) is courageous data. In addition, since most minority owns much of the media in Australia. and active on this issue, and I thank owners are primarily single-station op- Big deal. Well, they also own much of her for being with us. erators, they face additional difficulty the media in the United Kingdom. Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, on June in competing against the larger group They own a lot of the media in Eastern 2, the FCC is scheduled to meet to dis- owners. Europe. They are increasingly owning cuss a proposal by Chairman Powell to The consolidation of media owner- more media in China. And guess what? relax regulations on media ownership. ship has also adversely impacted pro- They already own a whole lot of media

VerDate Jan 31 2003 00:54 May 16, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K15MY7.102 H15PT1 H4184 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 15, 2003 and other companies in the United people know that as a result of that NEDY) is recognized for 60 minutes as States, and they want more. budget, there will likely be cutbacks in the designee of the majority leader. Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. b 1615 Medicaid, Medicare, veterans needs, education, environmental protection? Speaker, I rise today to talk about the So what you are looking at is one Because if you give away all of that very significant transportation issues man who happens to be a right-wing money, you will have less for the needs that are facing our country. billionaire controlling huge amounts of of working families and the middle Why, just today those who have read media all over the entire world, which class. the Washington Post would read that makes him, in fact, one of the most How many people know that if you Virginia backs off plans for two road powerful people in the world. do that huge tax break, you are going projects; how the State is abandoning In the United States, news corpora- to end up with a $10 trillion national studies to widen Interstate 66 through tions owned by Mr. Murdoch, 22 tele- debt that we are leaving to our kids Arlington and building an outer belt- vision stations, including stations in and our grandchildren? Not a whole lot way. This is a road that is heavily used New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dal- of discussion about that because Mr. and is limited to two lanes in each di- las, Washington, Minnesota, Houston, Murdoch and the guys who make tens rection in highly congested areas, yet Orlando and Phoenix. He owns the Fox of millions of dollars a year want tax they are going to be seeking proposals Broadcasting Network. He owns Fox breaks for the rich. They want the from companies that might want to News. He owns Fox Kids, Fox Sports, American taxpayer to subsidize them, build a toll road or other type of high- the Health Network, the National Geo- to give them billions of dollars in cor- way to serve the same needs, and they graphic. He owns TV Guide. He owns porate welfare. are doing this because Virginia is the TV Guide Channel. He owns Fox Do you think General Electric, which struggling to pay the bills for these Sports, radio, the Golf Channel. He also owns NBC, is going to be talking about roads projects. is not content with broadcast media. all the welfare that General Electric That is something that is not just He happens to own the New York Post. gets through its nuclear power efforts? faced in Virginia, but is faced around And this is really a small number of Maybe, but I do not think so. Do you the country. And right now if they what he owns. He owns the Times in think that General Electric, which were trying to address these needs, London, one of the leading papers in owns NBC, will be talking about all the where they are looking for other roads, the United Kingdom. He owns the Sun jobs that GE destroyed in the United looking at tolls or other forms of pri- in the United Kingdom, one of the States, all the American workers they vate financing, they cannot do that on large circulation tabloids there. He threw out on the street as they moved interstate roads right now. owns the News of the World. He owns to Mexico and China? I do not think so. In my view, and what I am going to the TV Guide Magazine in the United So this issue is not some kind of in- be talking about today, is a proposal States. He owns a conservative maga- side-the-Beltway abstract issue. It gets that I put forth along with the gen- zine called the Weekly Standard. to the heart and the soul and the core tleman from Washington (Mr. SMITH) But that is not all that he owns. He of what America is about, and that is if for fast, free alternatives to speedy owns Harper Collins, one of our major we are to remain a democracy where transportation. What I am going to be publishing houses. He owns Regan honest people have honest differences talking about is that we do not want books. He owns Amistad Books. He of opinion, we have got to get all of the congestion. We do not want congestion owns William Morrow and Company. information. We cannot have a handful that is experienced here in Washington, That means if you want to get a book of conglomerates who have their own D.C., or like is experienced all around published, you have got to go through special interests determining what we the country. And we do not want the these guys. see, hear and read. And that is why, tolls that we have seen in other areas Not only that, he has tremendous im- just to recapitulate what all of my col- where you have to slow down and stop pact on sports in America. People say, leagues who have been up here have at a toll booth, where you have to have I do not care about books, but I really said, it is enormously important that the tolls that are collected on that am interested in sports. Well, he hap- on June 2 the FCC does not go forward road paying for all types of projects pens to own or at least be part owner of and further deregulate the media so around the area, some of which have the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los An- you will end up with even an even nothing to do with transportation. And geles Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers, smaller number controlling what we that is going to be the focus of my re- the New York Knickerbockers, the New see, hear and read. marks. York Rangers. At the very least, Mr. Powell has got What is this alternative? This alter- Well, I am not interested in sports, to stop the process. He has got to have native that we are putting forth called but I am interested in music. He owns public hearings all over America. We FAST I think addresses many of the Festival Records. He owns Mushroom need studies to understand what this issues that we are facing today. If you Records, and he owns much, much will mean, what more deregulation will look at it, part of what we are strug- more. mean to the quality of American de- gling with is the fact that right now we Now, the point here is it is not just mocracy, what it will mean to the abil- are almost completely reliant on the Mr. Murdoch and news corporations. I ity of communities to get local news, gas tax as a means of funding our have talked about Viacom before. It is what it will mean to small businesses roads, and that has been problematic. not just AOL-Time Warner. It is not and the ability of small businesses to It has been problematic for several just Disney. It is not just Clear Chan- function within the media area. reasons: Number one, gas tax does not nel. It is a handful of corporations that This is an enormously important go up with inflation even though the control more than you think they do, issue. I would hope that anyone who costs of roads do. We have higher-mile- and the end result of that is that entire needs more information about this can age cars, which are good things. We issues of great concern to the Amer- go to my website at Bernie.House.gov. want higher-mileage cars, but when ican people are not discussed at all be- I hope that more people will get in- you have higher-mileage cars that are cause these guys really are not inter- volved in this extremely important using less gas for every mile driven, ested in discussing it. issue. I want to thank all of the Mem- there is less gas tax received for every I read recently that Mr. Bush’s pro- bers of Congress who have been here mile driven on the road. posal for $720 billion in tax breaks is today. You also have continued exploration gaining support in America. Well, I can f of alternative fuel vehicles, which see why: Because there has been rel- again is a good thing. Just a few atively little opportunity in the media FAST FREE ALTERNATIVES TO months ago the President from this for those of us who disagree, who think SPEEDY TRANSPORTATION Chamber put out a challenge for hydro- that it is a bad idea that the richest The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. gen-based vehicles. In that challenge 1⁄10 of 1 percent get as much in tax CHOCOLA). Under the Speaker’s an- he said our children’s generations breaks as the bottom 89 percent. How nounced policy of January 7, 2003, the would be driving in hydrogen-based ve- many people know that? How many gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. KEN- hicles. But do you know how much gas

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