wfn.org | United Church of Christ Gains Review of FCC Ownership Rules

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> OC, Inc. gains review of FCC ownership rules

> Written by Staff Reports
> April 15, 2009

Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit granted the UCC Office of Communication, Inc.'s request that the Federal Communications Commission be given an opportunity to revise its most-recent set of media ownership rules before the court undertakes its review.

In its filing, 08-3078 ? "Prometheus Radio Project v. FCC," OC Inc. challenged the FCC's most recent media ownership rules that allow television stations to own newspapers in certain circumstances.

Cheryl Leanza, Policy Director of UCC OC, Inc. said, "We are delighted that the Third Circuit ruled in our favor. The Federal Communications Commission now has the opportunity to develop a sound record and better rules to enhance and protect media diversity."

The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, Executive Director of UCC OC, Inc., is hopeful that a more just ruling is possible as a result of this review. "The truncated process used to adopt these rules at the end of 2007 produced rules inadequate to the task. A fresh look with appropriate deliberation will go a long way to ensuring the public receives a diversity of views from a multiplicity of media outlets in these trying times," he said.

OC, Inc. is the media justice arm of the United Church of Christ that works to create just and equitable media structures that give meaningful voice to diverse peoples, cultures and ideas.