WASHINGTON, DC – Friday, U.S. Senator Cantwell (D-WA) and Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA) wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking them to give the public four weeks notice of the date of the hearing for media ownership in Seattle. Just hours after the FCC received this letter, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin announced the final public hearing on this issue in Seattle a week from today, on November 9th,giving the public little time to make plans to participate. 

“Anyone who wishes to participate in these public hearings must have enough time to do so,” said Cantwell. “This should not be about checking the box.  Announcing a public hearing at the last minute is counter-productive and does not permit real public input on this critically important issue.”

The Commission’s last public hearing was on Wednesday of this week regarding its localism proceeding. The short notice for the hearing, also announced a week prior to the date, prompted Cantwell and Inslee to write to the FCC that it “effectively barred many people from participating, and ran counter to the shared objective of soliciting broad public input.”

 

Both Cantwell and Inslee’s offices have received inquiries from people in Seattle, along with other areas of the Northwest, including Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska, who are interested in participating. Their participation would require greater planning to be a part of the public forum.