I’ve never tried any liveblogging before, but since Don unofficially made me EFF-Austin’s official FCC hearing blogger, I thought I would blog it in real time. Here goes nothing..
6:19: As I walk in, a graying hippie dude is trying to explain wikis to another graying hippie dude. “It’s like a website, but you don’t have to maintain it,” he says, “and it can grow.”
6:24: I thought this place would be packed, and I would be fighting for a seat, but there are maybe a hundred people here. The auditorium seems largely empty. I recognize two other grad students, and one is from American studies.
6:27: Maybe this won’t go on for hours, like I thought it would. I wonder if I can get home in time to watch the season premiere of David Mamet’s weird military drama “The Unit.”
6:30: LiveJournal’s post-by-Jabber interface is really nice. I wish I had something like that set up for WordPress. It would make this much easier.
6:35: The hearing hasn’t started yet. At least under fascism the FCC hearings start on time. People are filtering in, but the auditorium is largely empty. I don’t recognize that attractive young woman waving at me.
6:37:Sweet sassy molassy, where did all these people come from? Were they bussed in from San Antonio? A middle-aged woman keeps chirping, “if you would like to provide public comment, please sign in.” The crowd noise is up to a dull roar.
6:38: Jonathan Adelstein makes his first appearance. Wi-Fi is getting spotty: I don’t know if I can keep this up if my connection keeps going out.
6:45: One of my students is here passing about 9/11 conspiracy literature. I also got a “Don’t Mess with Tejano Music” handbill. I don’t think this will actually start until 7.
6:51: A hispanic man in his sixties tell us that we’re waiting on a second table and a microphone for citizens providing public comment. I don’t think I’ll make it home in time to watch “The Unit.”
6:55: The man in his sixties appears to be in charge. He tells us Adelstein will talk first, followed by a string of other speakers. It will be some time before the people have their say.
6:57: The hearing has finally started. The guy in charge tells us he hopes this won’t go too late.
7:04: Blah, blah, blah… introductions. Adelstein finally speaks. He says “It’s a breath of fresh air to be out of Washington, and not just because it’s a swamp.”
7:06:Adelstein says that our views are “really important” to the FCC. Makes a crowd-pleasing remark about Ann Richards. “We don’t serve the large media corporations who profit by using the public airwaves… We’re like a paper tiger.” OK, I guess this guy is furreal.
7:10: “I’m here to find out what’s happening here in Austin… I was disappointed to learn that you can’t hear Tejano music here in Austin.” He says he thought Austin radio would be a little more “picante.” Compared to other cities, I actually think Austin’s radio is really pretty good.
7:14: Adelstein is coming out strong against media consolidation. I’m surprised he’s advocating a point of view at this hearing. I agree with him, but isn’t he here to consider viewpoints. The FCC is considering further relaxing ownership rules, he says, “The public has the right to the specific details before its finalized, not after.”
7:15: We’re supposed to support localism, diversity, and minority ownership, and we’ve failed on all three fronts.
7:16: Adelstein’s mic battery goes bad. He jokes, “This is the Federal Communications Commission, and we’re not communicating.”
7:21: “This is about the free marketplace of ideas.” He argues Motown would not have emerged without local radio programming in Detroit. I’m not sure I agree; Berry Gordy deliberately targeted a white, suburban audience. I suspect he could have found a national audience with his approach.
7:23: Adelstein: “Now I’m going to shut up and listen.”
7:25:There’s a panel of pre-selected speakers. Each only has five minutes to speak, but it will take at least a half-hour to get through each of them. I’m feeling hungry. I’ve heard most of this in my education and research.
7:32: I think I’m going to pack it in and head home. I’m not really hearing anything new. Plus, I’m hungry and “The Unit” is on.
Update 9:33: I want to apologize for the tone and overall lameness of this post. I frankly thought the prepared speakers were in the educational session at 5:30, and the public comment began at 6:30. I arrived at 5:30 at what was an organizing session, and, of course, the hearing began a half-hour late at 7:00. So I thought I could catch the panel and an hour’s worth of testimony and be home by eight. Waiting made me a little snarky, but I really am skeptical of how effective these hearings are.
As Adelstein himself pointed out, public comment was almost completely disregarded by the FCC in the last review of ownership rules. Under the current Bush adminstration and a Republican-dominated FCC, I think we’ll only see more catering to industry. Tonight’s hearing just seemed like a dog-and-pony show that allows people to feel like they’re doing something. But, I’m not sure a Democratic adminstration would do much better. Remember, Clinton signed the Communication Act of 1996, which created the radio land rush that put Clear Channel where it is today, and a Democratic FCC created the crappy low-power FM service that pretty much eliminated the possibility of any new community radio in urban areas. Unfortunately, I’m not able to offer any alternatives tonight, but perhaps the vagaries of the Bush adminstration will have ordinary citizens more suspicious of corporate power in the elections this year and 2008.
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