FCC Announces Agenda and Witnesses for Public Hearing on Media Ownership in Seattle

The purpose of the hearing is to fully involve the public in the process of the 2006 Quadrennial Broadcast Media Ownership Review that the Commission is currently conducting.  This hearing is the sixth and final media ownership hearing the Commission intends to hold across the country.  Previous FCC public hearings in the current review of media ownership issues were held in Los Angeles, CA, on October 3, 2006; Nashville, TN, on December 11, 2006; and Harrisburg, PA, on February 23, 2007; Tampa Bay, FL, on April 30, 2007; and Chicago, IL, on September 20, 2007.

There will be two panels, each followed by a period for public comment.

The hearing is open to the public, and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.  The hearing format will enable members of the public to participate via "open microphone." 
Agenda and list of witnesses follows:
(All Times PST)

4:00 p.m.        Welcome/Opening Remarks
4:30 p.m.        Panel Discussion 1: Perspectives on Media Ownership
Mark Allen, President & CEO, Washington State Association of Broadcasters
Frank Blethen, Publisher/CEO, Seattle Times
John Carlson, Radio Talk Show Host, KVI-AM
Erubiel Valladares-Carranzo II, Technical Engineer, KPCN-LP 96.3 FM Radio Movimiento "La Voz del Pueblo"
Bernie Foster, Publisher, The Portland Skanner, The Seattle Skanner
Ray Heacox, General Manager, King Broadcasting Seattle
Elizabeth Blanks Hindman, Associate Professor, Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University
Diana Kramer, Vice President and General Manager, Puget Sound Publishing Company
Pamela S. Pearson, Vice President/General Manager, KCPQ/KMYQ-TV, Tribune Broadcasting Company
Jon Rand, General Manager, KAYU TV, Spokane, KCYU TV, Yakima, KFFX TV, Tri-Cities
Cheryl A. Salomone, Vice President and Market Manager, New Northwest Broadcasters – Tri Cities, WA
5:30 p.m.        Public Comments
7:30 p.m.        Break
8:00 p.m.         Panel Discussion 2: Perspectives on Media Ownership
Abby Dylan, National Board Member, Screen Actors Guild Seattle
Bruce Fife, President, American Federation of Musicians, Local 99
Christina Romano Glaubke, Director, Children and the Media Program, Children Now
Joseph Orozco, Station Manager, KIDE 91.3 FM
Michelle Santosuosso, Former Vice President of Artist and Label Relations, Napster, Inc.
9:00 p.m.         Public Comments
11:00 p.m.       Wrap-Up/Adjournment

The moderator will be Louis Sigalos, Chief of the Consumer Affairs & Outreach Division, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC
A live audio cast of the hearing will be available at the FCC's website at www.fcc.gov on a first-come, first-served basis.  The public may also file comments or other documents with the Commission and should reference docket number 06-121 when filing by paper or submit your filing electronically by going to http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi and enter proceeding number 06-121. Filing instructions are provided at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership/comments.html.

Sign language interpreters and open captioning will be provided for this event.  Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.  Include a description of the accommodation needed, and include a way we can contact you if we need more information.  Please make your request as early as possible.  Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill.  Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
For additional information about the hearing, please visit the FCC's website at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership.  Press inquiries should be directed to Mary Diamond at 202-418-2388 or to Clyde Ensslin at 202-418-0506.