[LWV] League of Women Voters®
of Northwest Maricopa County

Media and Democracy (Net Neutrality)

How Media affects our democracy and our lives

Why care about the media? We spend hours exposed to television, radio, CDs, books, newspapers, magazines, billboards, and the Internet. Presently five media conglomerates own 75% of what we see and hear. They decide what is news and what isn't, what information we receive and what we don't . . . and how much we pay for it. They shape our understanding of social, cultural, and political issues. No matter what you care about most: the economy or the environment, civil rights or gun rights, media influences all issues by shaping the beliefs, values, and opinions of the public and policymakers.

Many concerns and questions are being raised. Why does celebrity tabloid gossip permeate the airwaves while crucial issues that impact our lives and community are not reported? News stories are copycatted from channel to channel and offer little diversity of viewpoints. Cable rates are skyrocketing. The public owns the airwaves, but U.S. broadcasters use them at no charge, a gift that has been valued at $367 billion. In return, radio and television broadcasters are required by law to serve the "public interest" through programming that benefits and serves society. However, enforcement is minimal, so the pursuit of profits dominates airtime and programming. Diverse voices and opinions are fading as independent newspaper owners disappear; only 281 of the nation's 1500 daily newspapers remain independently owned. And now we learn that the government has secretly used taxpayer's money to pay journalists to promote particular points of view. Is investigative reporting disappearing or being silenced? Media is the lifeblood of our democracy, but is it providing a marketplace of ideas with robust public discourse and a forum for debates of healthy skepticism, understanding, and accountability, thus strengthening our country.

Informed and active citizens are making a difference! In 2003, the Federal Communication Commission approved a package of deregulatory measures that made it possible for a large corporation to own all media outlets in a town. Therefore, a single entity would have the power to determine and censor what is heard, viewed, and read: music, political news, information about local emergencies (i.e., a hazardous waste spill), opinions on issues of importance. Because of strong public outcry, last summer the court system ordered the FCC to reconsider deregulation of the rules. This February, the administration decided to abandon their efforts to relax the regulations. This was a significant victory for grassroots activists and the public. But, as FCC Commissioner Cobbs states, "We've got to be vigilant and not let anyone try to sneak consolidation through this agency in some piecemeal fashion."

There are the serious consequences of media consolidation (one company owning all local media), limited/closed airwaves, proposed legislation that is trying to take away public access and educational channels, and the need for broadcasters to be held accountable for fulfilling the public interest obligation to which they agreed when they received their free broadcast license.

Net Neutrality

What is Net Neutrality? It is a term coined in 2006. It is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open use of the Internet for everyone without extra charges. It protects everyone's right to connect with one another without being blocked by phone and cable companies. It protects continued public ownership of the Internet and stops private corporations from dictating/controlling how it is operated.

Learn more about the issue and movement by clicking on these links:

Visit these Websites: http://www.freepress.net and http://www.SavetheInternet.com

What you can do to protect Internet freedom: Take Action:

  • Help spread the word to friends, family, & organizations to which you belong.
  • Contact your members of Congress today and demand that Net Neutrality be protected. Urge them to co-sponsor Rep. Markey (D) and Pickering's(R) "Internet Freedom Preservation Act" (HR5353). This important, bipartisan legislation protects the free-flowing Internet from blocking, censorship and discrimination by powerful phone and cable companies. A form letter is available at SavetheInternet.com; just click on the "Get Involved" arrow and it will come up.
  • Conduct a LWV state concurrence study utilizing all the work already done by the LWVUS Task Force and the Connecticut LWV.

A vibrant, informed democracy demands media that serves the public interest.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: October 25, 2009 18:53 PDT.

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