Center for Creative Voices in Media Blog

GAO to Investigate Networks' Elimination of Independent Productions From TV

Kudos to Senators Dorgan, Leahy, and Kohl, who asked the Government Accountability Office, the federal government's main investigative body, to look into charges that media consolidation has reduced opportunities for independent producers and programmers. In a letter, the senators wrote: "It is important that we understand the current media environment, the reasons for the drastic decrease in independent programming and the impact government laws and regulations have on the media industry." The senators note that some 50% of primetime television programming was independently produced in 1989 but only about 18% is now. Also, the solons said indie radio producers have reported "difficulty getting carried on radio stations, or if carried, under unfavorable conditions." Lawmakers plea for indie productions - Entertainment News, Radio News, Media - Variety.

Read more about the Senators' and the FCC's attempts to restore independent programming to TV on our website, here.

Democracy and the Web

NY Times editorialized today in favor on Internet Freedom aka Net Neutrality, writing: This sort of discrimination would interfere with innovation. Many major Web sites, like eBay or YouTube, might never have gotten past the start-up stage if their creators had been forced to pay to get their content through. Content discrimination would also allow I.S.P.’s to censor speech they do not like — something that has already begun. Last year, Verizon Wireless refused to allow Naral Pro-Choice America to send text messages over its network, reversing itself only after bad publicity. Link: Democracy and the Web - New York Times.

And, at the Cable Confab in Nawlins, spokespersons for Obama, McCain, and Clinton all endorsed Net Neutrality, although differing on whether legislation was needed. Interestingly, former FCC Chair Michael Powell now speaks for the McCain campaign. Guess they patched it up after McCain led the Senate's charge in 2003 to overturn Powell's fanatical elimination of limits on media ownership. Link here.

Senate Votes to Block FCC's Cross-Ownership Rule Change

The Senate by near unanimous voice vote passed a Resolution of Disapproval of the FCC's relaxation of media ownership limits. A similar resolution awaits House action. The President has threatened to veto it. Interesting, among the co-sponsors of the resolution are senators and presidential candidates Clinton and Obama. Said Obama about the Resolution: “We must ensure that we have an open media market that represents diverse voices throughout the country... The rules promoting the public interest and diversity in media ownership are too important for the FCC to accept an agenda supported by the Washington special interests I have fought against for more than one year." We agree. Link here.

Senator to ISPs: "Think twice" about 'Net neutrality... or else

From Ars Technica: Pledging to use "every ounce of my energy to protect network neutrality," Wyden had a message for ISPs who might be pondering new charges for various forms of access: "think twice." If ISPs start down that road, they might soon find that they lose key legal protections including "safe harbors" and tax freedom. Wyden delivered his ultimatum at a Computer & Communications Industry Association conference in DC, where he cast the entire network neutrality debate in terms of a legislative compromise. Years ago, Congress began protecting ISPs from the twin threats of regulation and taxation; in return, ISPs were expected to deliver an unimpeded connection to the Internet. A move away from a neutral 'Net would undermine the "very philosophical underpinnings of what we fought for for the last 15 years," according to Wyden. If that happens, he sees no reason for Congress to continue sheltering ISPs. Finally, politicians are using language Big Cable and Big Telco understand and respect. Those industries have enjoyed protection for their monopolies from Congress, and all that protection needs to be rethought if they try to use it as leverage to take over the Internet. Link: Senator to ISPs: "Think twice" about 'Net neutrality... or else.

Sprint's WiMax -- Will Google Transform Big Cable/Telco or Become Them?

Harold Feld of the Media Access Project has a terrific analysis of the potentially transforming announcement by Sprint and ClearWire of their wireless broadband joint venture with Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Google, and others. ...after seeing Google break my poor little heart in the 700 MHz auction after I was so utterly convinced they would bid to win, I am very definitely reserving judgment here. Because while I keep hoping that this is all part of Google acting to alter the wireless world by making it more open, I cannot overlook the possibility that this is the world of giant corporate incumbents altering Google to be less of a threat. Read all of it at: Wetmachine: Harold Feld's Tales of the Sausage Factory.

House Addresses Net Neutrality

Variety report on the Tuesday hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet on a proposed bipartisan bill intended to ensure open access to the Web: "Hannah Montana" exec producer Steve Peterman, speaking on behalf of the Writers Guild of America West, described the Internet as "the new TV" and the best of the diminishing opportunities for independent artists to reach a large audience. Media consolidation over the last 15 years had reduced a once "rich marketplace of ideas" into a tightly controlled environment ruled by seven congloms that determine "nearly all of the information and content we see," Peterman said. "Because this small group now acts as producer, studio and network, there has been an inevitable stifling of creativity and diversity, and because they maintain a chokehold over distribution, there has been nowhere else for the creative community to go," he declared.Peterman said the ready availability of the Web as an exhibition platform is appealing to many writers weary of "notes from 30 executives with no sense of humor. Unlike the current studio system, the Internet makes it possible for content creators to retain both ownership and control of the quality of what they create. The Internet also provides the audience -- the American public -- with a virtually unlimited menu of news, information and entertainment content from which to choose. But all of these bold new possibilities rely on Net neutrality." Peterman said WGAW was therefore endorsing the proposed bill, called the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, which would essentially codify the Federal Communications Commission's principles of Internet openness. Link: Congress addresses net neutrality - Entertainment News, Technology News, Media - Variety.