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There are two main ways to make change in the current media ownership situation. One is to push for better rules limiting how many media outlets one company can own. This is decided at the federal level, but local groups can take positions in support of ownership limits and send a message to lawmakers and regulators. Another and more direct way to confront the ownership of media in your community is to challenge the licenses of local broadcasters.
The models and tools in this section of the Guide can help you:
- Challenge local TV, radio and cable owners
- Make an official statement to support limits on media ownership
Challenge local TV, radio and cable owners
- How to challenge local TV and radio station licenses: This "Community Guide for Local Input" produced by the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy can help you assert community voices to the broadcasters in your town.
- How to participate in the broadcast license renewal process: TV and radio broadcasters must renew their licenses every eight years. While you might not stop the renewal, you can get your community's concerns into the public record. Find out more, including when renewals are due in your state with this broadcast license primer (PDF) from the Alliance for Better Campaigns.
- How to investigate the public file of your local TV station: OurMediaVoice has a guide on the public file that explains how broadcasters are required to document how they are serving the public interest.
- How to get better community services from the cable company: In most towns, the cable company is a local monopoly that has to renew its deal with the community every 5 years or so. This is the opportunity for advocates to work with local officials to get public-access noncommercial community TV stations, broadband Internet for community uses, and other services from the one company that profits off of every cable subscriber in your town. Learn how in our Get Involved: TV, Radio, & Cable guide.
- How to fight a local radio station sale: If your local community radio is at risk of being bought out by a media giant, Americans for Radio Diversity's local radio guide can help you try to stop the takeover.
Make an official statement to support limits on media ownership
- Labor councils and other organizations seeking to support media democracy can adopt this resolution from the National Writers Union.
- Get your city council to pass a resolution against media concentration. Jeff Perlstein of Media Alliance recommends "Work with community organizations, religious organizations, labor groups and others to present your local City Council with your report findings, or even just your anecdotal concerns, and a draft resolution for them to approve."
See the successful resolutions passed in cities nationwide for models, contact involved advocacy groups to learn how they did it:
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