As mad as hell and not going to take this anymore

The big, surprise, seven-hour public hearing about media ownership, announced suddenly just a week ago by the Federal Communications Commission, is this evening in Seattle at Town Hall. You didn't have any plans tonight, right? Actually, turnout is going to be huge, because ticked off activists have been mobilizing. Could be the best party in town.

For context, Casey Corr today writes about the FCC's enormous power. And here's an earlier Seattle Times article that sets the stage for this particular event. Here's a really good, concise Associated Press rundown of the issues at stake.

The FCC is five very political people, and the two Democrats, Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps, were so mad about the short notice that they issued a statement the day the hearing was announced:

A hearing with only five days notice is no nirvana for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. This smells like mean spirit. Clearly, the rush is on to push media consolidation to a quick and ill-considered vote. It shows there is a preordained outcome. Pressure from the public and their elected representatives is ignored. With such short notice, many people will be shut out. We received notice of the hearing just moments before it was announced. This is outrageous and not how important media policy should be made.

Adelstein also wrote an op-ed for The Seattle Times urging everyone to turn out for the rumble.

The official agenda:

FCC Announces Agenda and Witnesses for Public Hearing on Media Ownership in Seattle, Washington

The Federal Communications Commission today announced further details of its previously announced Seattle, Washington field hearing regarding media ownership (see announcement dated November 2, 2007). As previously announced, the hearing date, time, and location are as follows:

Date: Friday, November 9, 2007
Time: 4:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Town Hall Seattle, Great Hall, 1119 Eighth Avenue (at Seneca Street), Seattle, WA 98101

The purpose of the hearing is to fully involve the public in the process of the 2006 Quadrennial Broadcast Media Ownership Review that the Commission is currently conducting. This hearing is the sixth and final media ownership hearing the Commission intends to hold across the country. Previous FCC public hearings in the current review of media ownership issues were held in Los Angeles, CA, on October 3, 2006; Nashville, TN, on December 11, 2006; and Harrisburg, PA, on February 23, 2007; Tampa Bay, FL, on April 30, 2007; and Chicago, IL, on September 20, 2007. The hearing is open to the public, and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The hearing format will enable members of the public to participate via "open microphone."

There will be two panels, each followed by a period for public comment. Agenda and list of witnesses follows:

4:00 p.m. Welcome/Opening Remarks

4:30 p.m. Panel Discussion 1: Perspectives on Media Ownership

• Mark Allen, President & CEO, Washington State Association of Broadcasters
• Frank Blethen, Publisher/CEO, Seattle Times
• John Carlson, Radio Talk Show Host, KVI-AM
• Erubiel Valladares-Carranzo II, Technical Engineer, KPCN-LP 96.3 FM Radio Movimiento "La Voz del Pueblo"
• Bernie Foster, Publisher, The Portland Skanner, The Seattle Skanner
• Ray Heacox, General Manager, King Broadcasting Seattle
• Elizabeth Blanks Hindman, Associate Professor, Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University
• Diana Kramer, Vice President and General Manager, Puget Sound Publishing Company
• Pamela S. Pearson, Vice President/General Manager, KCPQ/KMYQ-TV, Tribune Broadcasting Company
• Jon Rand, General Manager, KAYU-TV, Spokane, KCYU-TV, Yakima, KFFX-TV, Tri-Cities
• Cheryl A. Salomone, Vice President and Market Manager, New Northwest Broadcasters - Tri-Cities, WA

5:30 p.m. Public Comments

7:30 p.m. Break

8:00 p.m. Panel Discussion 2: Perspectives on Media Ownership

• Abby Dylan, National Board Member, Screen Actors Guild Seattle
• Bruce Fife, President, American Federation of Musicians, Local 99
• Christina Romano Glaubke, Director, Children and the Media Program, Children Now
• Joseph Orozco, Station Manager, KIDE 91.3 FM
• Michelle Santosuosso, Former Vice President of Artist and Label Relations, Napster, Inc.

9:00 p.m. Public Comments

11:00 p.m. Wrap-Up/Adjournment

The moderator will be Louis Sigalos, Chief of the Consumer Affairs & Outreach Division, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC.

A live audio cast of the hearing will be available at the FCC's website at www.fcc.gov on a first-come, first-served basis. The public may also file comments or other documents with the Commission and should reference docket number 06-121 when filing by paper or submit your filing electronically by going to http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi and enter proceeding number 06-121. Filing instructions are provided at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership/comments.html.