Page 270 - Battleground The Media Volume 1 and 2

Med a Reform |

key MoMents in Media PoliCy and Media reForM
1927—Radio Act of 1927.
1934—Telecommunications Act of 1934.
1967—Public Broadcasting Act (creates Public Broadcasting System [PBS]).
1969—Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which
upheld the constitutionality of the Fairness Doctrine, regulated by the FCC to require
broadcasters to present controversial issues of social significance in a fair, equal, and
balanced manner.
1971—WLBT in Jackson, Mississippi loses broadcasting license due to a civil rights move-
ment legal battle.
1976—After continued efforts by media activists, the FCC requires cable television opera-
tors to provide PEG (Public, Educational and Government) channels and production
facilitates; creation of Public Access Television system.
1987—Fairness Doctrine ended as a result of deregulation of media regulation laws.
1996—Telecommunications Act of 1996: sweeping deregulation of telecommunications
policies, including radio ownership restrictions.
1998—Pirate radio protest in Washington, DC, at National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB). Activists replace NAB flag with a pirate flag.
1999—Independent Media Center (www.indymedia.org) global network of independent
media producers and activists begins.
2000—FCC authorizes low-power FM radio stations.
2002—Angels of Public Interest demonstration against new FCC chairman, Michael
Powell.
2003—National campaign to keep ownership regulations for newspapers and televi-
sion; FCC receives over 2 million comments. The FCC, despite nationwide outcry,
passes regulation changes. Free Press hosts the first National Conference on Media
Reform.
2004—Ownership regulation changes restricted due to lawsuit by media reform organiza-
tion, Prometheus Project. Media reform is the second most important issue Americans
polled care about, after the Iraq War.
2006—FCC announces new review of ownership laws; Network Neutrality campaign
begins. Media reform organizations form the Stop Big Media Coalition.

have demonstrated that there has always been citizen resistance to the trends of
corporate media. When uncovered, these marginalized historical moments offer
lessons to today’s reformers.

CiviL righTs, CiTizEn invoLvEmEnT, anD mEDia rEForm

An example of a marginalized historical moment of media reform is the
WLBT television licensing case. During the late 1950s, civil rights activists
in Jackson, Mississippi, were actively working to get better coverage on their