• February 6, 2003

The Federal Communications Commission will hold two additional hearings on media concentration, commissioner Michael Copps announced during a speech at Fordham University in New York Wednesday. The hearings will take place at the University of Washington in Seattle in early March and at Duke University in Durham, NC in late March. The FCC will also hold a hearing later this month in Richmond, VA. Copps also called for the FCC to establish a “special procedure” to allow witnesses to testify in secret, perhaps behind a screen or wearing a disguise. “I hear privately that speaking out on this issue would cost many people their careers,” said Copps, adding, “I recognize that this presents challenges for a public proceeding, but so, too, does a climate of fear that chokes off needed input for important decisions.” At issue is the FCC’s review of its rules regarding radio, newspaper, TV, and cable ownership. The Commission will reportedly begin meeting privately next week to discuss the proposed changes.