c/o Akaku: Maui Community TV

333 Dairy Road, Suite 104                             

Kahului, HI 96732                  

(808) 871-5554 ph                              Contact: Sean McLaughlin or Stirling Morita

(808) 871-5510 fax                             E-mail: sean@akaku.org or moritas004@hawaii.rr.com

www.akaku.org

For Immediate Release

July 17, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Federal Rules Threaten Local Media

Hawaii Localism Coalition invited to Regional FCC Hearing

In Monterey CA on July 21, 2004

Kahului -  Concentration of media ownership is reducing diversity of voices and diminishing competition in the marketplace of ideas. Increasingly, off-shore commercial interests dominate and control local media landscapes. As a result, local voices are diminished.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rulemakings and interpretations of law (aka "de-regulation") are making the situation worse. Local news, community-based, educational and governmental uses of local media are at risk and struggling. The Federal Court has recently overturned the FCC's latest attempt last year to gut media ownership rules (Prometheus Radio Project v. FCC). So now the FCC's rules are again under complete review.

To address the loss of diverse local media caused by media consolidation, the Hawaii Localism Coalition was formed earlier this year. First priority for the Coalition is to ensure that the FCC's broadcast duopoly rule is enforced in Hawaii. Under a "temporary" waiver of the FCC rule, Emmis Communications has been operating both the number one (KHON Fox) and number three (KGMB CBS) rated TV stations in Hawaii. Emmis promised years ago to divest one of their two Hawaii TV stations, a promise that remains unfulfilled. Continued ownership and increasingly merged operation of both Hawaii TV stations is a violation of the FCC's broadcast duopoly rule and damages local public interests – with negative consequences that are economic, social and political.

Along with enforcement of existing FCC rules, Hawaii Localism Coalition also seeks to inform Federal and State media policy to promote the development of effective public interest regulation. The guiding principle is to seek the highest degree of localism, diversity and competition in Hawaii's media.

Hawaii Localism Coalition today announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Localism Task Force has invited Sean McLaughlin, president and CEO of Akaku: Maui Community TV, to represent the Coalition on a panel at the FCC's upcoming regional meeting in Monterey, CA on July 21, 2004. Information relating to the FCC's Localism proceeding and the upcoming meeting is online at www.fcc.gov.

Society of Professional Journalists-Hawaii past president Stirling Morita said, "we're delighted that Hawaii Localism Coalition efforts to participate in federal policy decisions are beginning to bear fruit, and we invite concerned members of the community in Hawaii to join our ongoing efforts to oppose media consolidation and to support diverse local media in the public interest."

Gerald Kato, UH School of Communications chair-designate said, "Localism, along with diversity and competition, is a fundamental principle of national media policy. To maintain the integrity of a free marketplace of ideas, civic media, including local news, need to be cultivated and protected from the corrosive impacts of commercial profit-making. Hawaii Localism Coalition is working to protect diverse local media and to ensure the integrity of public discourse on controversial issues of public importance."

"National media policy directly impacts Hawaii's local media, including the quality and diversity of information we rely upon to engage the best ideas and the brightest minds in building local communities," noted Sean McLaughlin. "Hawaii is well represented on the FCC's Intergovernmental Advisory Committee by our Public Utilities Commission chair Carl Caliboso. Hawaii Localism Coalition's efforts also support greater consideration in national policy for the unique needs of Hawaii's diverse communities. Local regulation and locally managed public service media are essential for an informed self-governing society to accomplish justice and liberty for all."

Coalition supporter, State Senator J. Kalani English (East and Upcountry Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe) said, "Hawaii is particularly privileged to have U.S. Senator Dan Inouye leading the Senate deliberations on media policy as ranking member of the subject matter committee – and Rep. Ed Case also playing an active role on the Hill advocating for local media access. The Hawaii Localism Coalition enters the federal arena in excellent company to lend additional Hawaii voices to the national debate on media policy."

Information regarding the FCC's Localism Task Force and their Localism proceeding is available on their web site at www.fcc.gov. Hawaii Localism Coalition efforts will be documented on member web sites, including: Society of Professional Journalists-Hawaii and Akaku: Maui Community TV (www.akaku.org). Supporters of Hawaii Localism Coalition efforts are invited to contact Sean McLaughlin or Stirling Morita directly.

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