Austin Scott: “I rise this morning to state how disappointed and, quite frankly, disturbed I am with the actions of the FCC on…”

“I rise this morning to state how disappointed and, quite frankly, disturbed I am with the actions of the FCC on yesterday. That was a very dangerous vote to the future of this country. This country was founded on many, many freedoms, but none more basic than the freedom of the press, freedom of information, and the diversity of that information. That action on yesterday by the FCC certainly puts us at a very clear and present danger of losing that freedom of the press in many respects. It will certainly short-circuit small business people, entrepreneurs, and others from having an opportunity to own media. It will certainly lessen the diversity of thought, shaping the opinions, and will certainly almost completely devastate community values and community controls. I daresay that certainly what is happening on the national stage and international stage is important, but is it not important knowing what happened to a parent's Little League son and how he performed, or what is happening in the board of education? I urge Members to join with me in sponsoring a bill that will overturn this FCC ruling, the Byrd-Dingell bill.”