Forwarded:
Teletruth News Alert: December 3rd, 2007

LINK TO THE FULL ARTICLE

How much of your state’s legislation is being drafted by industry?

The American Legislative Council, or ALEC, lets corporations cultivate
legislators and win support for industry-written bills while not technically
breaking lobbying rules – and paying no taxes. (First of two articles)

Q. The American Legislative Council, or ALEC, is a corporate-funded group
that gives large donations and other perks to legislators in states across
the country. It writes industry-serving bills that those legislators
introduce and get enacted. How many legislators in your state are or were members of ALEC?

Q. How many ALEC-drafted bills, if any, were introduced by legislators in your state? How many were enacted?

Q. ALEC is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) group. Should it be?

In previous articles I discussed Astroturf groups (fake grassroots
organizations), co-opted groups (activists that bend to serve donors), and
think tanks whose research is aimed at serving the special interests that
fund them.

This cast of characters churns out corporate-friendly data. But the real action takes place when laws are passed based on this one-two sucker punch of skewed data and high-priced, propaganda-style marketing — a process to which the public is not invited. The drafting of proposed legislation is often a done deal before the public knows it has begun, much less has a
chance for input.

LINK TO THE FULL ARTICLE:
http://niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ask_this.view&askthisid=00304

Fred Schaich
IFARA, Portland, OR
wrote:

"The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is moving toward a
consolidation of American Media. That means that a one big media company can own all
newspapers, radio, and TV stations in one community, controlling all the news,
media, and entertainment, and it's content. This may be decided in December 2007.
Several hearing were held with short notice. The one in Seattle on November 9, 2007
was set up with only 5 days notice. Still, over 1000 people attended. Over 275
people signed up for public testimony, which went on past 1 am. Each person was
allowed up to 2 minutes. This and other uploaded videos are their testimony. (Not
covered by the big media outlets) -- this is one of the few places where you can
hear their non-censored views."

It really bothers me that such an important issue is announced with "only 5 days notice". I begs the question who is the FCC commissioner working for? The people or the lobbyist of big media?

for more

even more

Michael's (MNN Access Center in Manhattan) passion is right on. Do you think it is time to stand tall demand an end to the oligarchy and form a government that actually cares about the people instead of business special interest. I invite you to read the back story that follows which was written by Jen Howard, Free Press.
There should not be back room deals in government, there should not be secret negotiations, there should not be secret deals or administrations playing their cards "close to the vest". Such activity begs suspicion.
In a government by and for the people, there should be NO tolerance for any secrets. Sadly, such activity is not unique to FCC It exist at all levels of government. Enough is enough.
Here is what Michael writes

Michael's (MNN Access Center in Manhattan) passion is right on.

"Media Tricks Deserve Treats

So . . . October 31 for a FCC Hearing, Halloween, Days of the Dead, Nights of Mischief. So fitting, one wonders what the hell Chairman Martin was thinking.

Years ago, a number of disrespectful, unwieldy, anarchistic and absolutely correct folk converged at the FCC headquarters, lowered and trashed the corporate FCC flag and flew the skull and cross bones of the pirate radio movement. This was the shot across the bow for the emergent LPFM movement. These are the truly significant acts of democratic media activists - we shouldn't forget that.

Today, in this time of the real and manufactured media war, the age of the endless political lie, we must demand and do even more. We should converge on Washington on October 31st, not to be heard, (since that seems to matter little to corporate bureaucrats inside) but to shut this farce of an commission of miscommunication down in a display of our dignity. Even if for this one night, let those inside hear the indignant silence of of a nation. Instead, let's be heard on the outside, in DC and everywhere.

Enough with the email campaigns - nobody is reading them anyway - let's organize an old fashioned protest instead. On Oct 31st let's converge in DC and fill the white space with 'our noise', trash the 700MhZ spectrum with 'our static', and flood the audible airwaves with 'our outrage' for a commission so obviously beholden to it's corporate patrons and neglectful of the public interest. Can't make it to DC? OK, just head down to one of your favorite corporate media outlets and make noise there - after all, it's their corporate parent yanking the strings of the FCC.

With all due respect to the minority (Adelstein and Copps), it's time we just 'Tell the FCC Ya Basta - Enough!' This is no longer a time to negotiate, the majority have repeatedly demonstrated a lack of good faith and reason, we need to work to suspend the activities of this commission until sounder minds can take over.

So - who's down? Put on a mask and bear your conscious! We can do this.

- Michael

PS: You'll probably be reading this tomorrow, the 25th of October. One year ago on this date, Brad Will, a videographer for the Independent Media Center, took a bullet in the chest and died in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. He was shot down by officials of the local PRI government while filming behind the barricades of the popular resistance. Brad videotaped his own shooting. His killers (who were photographed by other press), were detained, released and are now missing. To date, the U.S. State department and the Mexican Government have remained silent and sought no investigation nor justice in this matter (nor for the dozens of others who were killed and tortured in Oaxaca during this period). Brad Will - Presente!"

Jen Howard wrote:
>
>
>
> free press: media is the issue
>
>
>
> October 24, 2007
>
> For Immediate Release
>
> Contact:
> Jen Howard, Free Press, (703) 517-6273
> FCC Hearing Shuts Out the Public
> In rush for more media consolidation, Chairman Martin neglects the public and ignores Congress
>
> WASHINGTON -- Late Wednesday night, the Federal Communications Commission announced that its next hearing on localism will be on Oct. 31 at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. The hearing's belated announcement -- just five business days before the event -- follows reports that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is rushing to eliminate longstanding media ownership limits before the end of the year.
>
> Free Press Executive Director Josh Silver issued the following statement:
>
> "How can you have a hearing on localism without giving the local community time to find out it is happening? Chairman Martin's actions suggest that he's never been serious about paying attention to the public. He's already made up his mind, and is hell-bent on gutting the rules.
>
> "This is a slap in the face to the vast majority of Americans who oppose consolidation and a direct insult to the bipartisan members of Congress who have called for a fair and transparent public process. The chairman is ignoring the undeniable evidence that media consolidation has a devastating impact on local news and diversity.
>
> "It feels like deja vu all over again. Chairman Martin is repeating the same mistakes that ignited a firestorm of opposition four years ago. He may not want to listen to the countless Americans who are sick and tired of a broken media system -- but they will be heard."
>
> FCC Public Notice:
> http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-277560A1.pdf
>
> Joint statement from FCC Commissioners Adelstein and Copps:
> http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-277561A1.doc

PUBLIC ACTION NEEDED!
EMAIL/CALL CONGRESS TO STOP FCC!
(FCC DN MB 05-311)
The Alliance for Community Media has set up a site to make it easy for you, your friends, relatives and supporters to write your Congressional delegation. Congress needs to know that the FCC is on the verge of taking Congressional power as they rewrite cable law. It is important for Congress to know that their constituents are active in community media and that you are ready to fight.

The rules of this process are written against your interests. You are not allowed to call or write the FCC right now, but your Congress-members can.

Being written out of the law by the FCC:

· Support for Public, Education and Government Access Channels: GONE!
· Channel capacity for Public, Education and Government Access Channels from new providers. GONE!
· Your city's right to reasonable payment by the telephone and cable companies who make billions of dollars using public land. GONE!
· Your city's public safety and educational communication systems. GONE!
The rules will be rewritten Wednesday. Only your Congress-members can stop the FCC now. Tell them to support your community. Tell them to forward your concerns to the FCC NOW!

For easy email message, click here.

Please circulate this call to action far and wide.