[Random-bits] Friday's FCC demo

[James Love]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS
March 19, 2002 Seeta Peņa Gangadharan
415-377-5069
seeta@mediachannel.org

Dylan Wrynn, Prometheus Radio Project
215-727-9620
petri@critpath.org

Inja Coates, Media Tank
215-563-1100
inja@mediatank.org

David DeGraw, American Resurrection
Citizen@americanresurrection.com

CONCERNED "ANGELS OF PUBLIC INTEREST" PAY FCC CHAIRMAN POWELL A VISIT
PROTEST PLANNED TO DEMAND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY OF FCC

What: Concerned citizens dressed as "Angels of Public Interest" from the
East Coast and beyond will descend on the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to express their outrage at the agency's attempts to hand over more
control and power to large media corporations. A delegation of concerned
citizens dressed as Angels, replete with wings and halos, trumpets and harps
will proceed to Powell's office to present him with a public interest
crystal ball. The protest is part of Media Democracy Week, March 17-23, a
national effort to raise awareness about media democracy issues; and comes
in the wake of a recent court and FCC rulings that jeopardize the
protections the public has against media monopoly.

Where: Federal Communications Commission Building, 445 12th Street, SW,
Washington, DC

When: Friday, March 22, 3:00 PM crystal ball presentation, program and press
conference

Who: Citizens, activists, media professionals, media scholars and public
interest practitioners from around the nation. Speakers include Jeff
Chester, Director Center for Digital Democracy, Terry O'Neal, President,
National Organization of Women, Dee Dee Halleck, President Association of
Independent Video and Filmmakers, Reverend Billy, Church of Stop
Shopping/Stop Bombing and an Archangel of the Public Interest. Key
representatives from media advocacy groups and public-interest watchdogs
will be on hand for comment. For a list of endorsers, please see
www.americanresurrection.com

Why: FCC Chairman Michael Powell announced: "The night after I was sworn in,
I waited for a visit from the angel of the public interest. I waited all
night, but she did not come." Such statements, for which he has become
well-known, indicate a blatant disregard for the public. At stake are issues
such as further privatization and concentration of media resources, open
access to the Internet, community radio and other issues of media democracy.

"The FCC was created to protect the public from monopoly interests, not the
other way around. It's Powell's job to stand up for diversity and access,
and ensure the public's resources actually benefit the public - not just a
few elite corporations." stated Inja Coates, co-founder and director of
Media Tank, one of the participating groups based in Philadelphia.

Media Visuals: Individuals dressed as Angels; colorful puppets and signs
with "free media" messages; street theater satirizing Chairman Powell and
the FCC. ###