wfn.org | OC, Inc director applauds circuit court decision

[powellb@ucc.org]

Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Inc. (OC, Inc.)
Barb Powell, press contact
216-736-2175; powellb@ucc.org

Gloria Tristani, OC, Inc. Managing Director
202-263-2586; tristang@ucc.org

On the web:  http://ocinc.ucc.org

For immediate release
June 25, 2004

Former FCC Commissioner and communications advocate
applauds court decision blocking media consolidation

WASHINGTON, DC -- A leading communications advocate and former FCC
Commissioner today (June 25) announced her support for the June 24 decision
of a U.S. appeals court to keep in place its order to block implementation
of media consolidation rules.

Gloria Tristani, managing director of the Office of Communication of the
United Church of Christ (OC, Inc.), said, "The court decision reversing the
Federal Communication Commission's decision last year that allowed for
media consolidation is a resounding victory for all Americans."

Tristani also called the decision by the Third Circuit court in
Philadelphia a victory "for those who historically have been excluded from
the media ? people of color and women."

In its decision, the appeals court told the FCC that it must reconsider the
impact of TV and radio station consolidation on local communities.

"The FCC has a golden opportunity to put into place rules that promote a
more diverse and local media, and a media that looks like America," said
Tristani. "We urge everyone to make their voices heard at the FCC."

The Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Inc. (OC, Inc.)
was established in 1959. Throughout its history, OC, Inc. has advocated for
persons historically excluded from the media, especially women and people
of color; petitioned the FCC to issue EEO rules; sought to guarantee
educational and informational children's programming; defended the Equal
Time Rule for political candidates; supported efforts to establish
low-power FM radio; protected affordable access to emerging technologies;
and urged strengthening of basic corporate character requirements for those
who transmit images and data.

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[EDITORS AND PRODUCERS: Here is the full text of the statement released
today, June 25, 2004, by Gloria Tristani, former FCC Commissioner and
Managing Director of OC, Inc., regarding the decision by the Third Circuit
Court of Appeals in Philadelphia on media consolidation.]

"The Court decision reversing the Federal Communication Commission's
decision last year to allow for more media consolidation is a resounding
victory for all Americans.  And it is a resounding victory for those who
historically have been excluded from the media ? people of color and women.

"The FCC has a golden opportunity to put into place rules that promote a
more diverse and local media, and a media that looks like America.  While
we hope that the FCC will get it right this time, we urge everyone to make
their voices heard at the FCC."

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