Senior centers could reach their members who cannot travel to the center. City governments could transmit council meetings and mass transit updates. Groups that work with young people could operate a station, allowing teen-agers to run radio shows and simultaneously obtain technical and artistic training that will prepare them for a career in broadcasting. The possibilities are limited only by the creativity of the individuals using and listening to low power radio. The media consolidation sweeping the country in all areas of communication increases the importance of independent radio outlets.
Media consolidation weakens our democracy.
Without locally owned and programmed outlets, citizens cannot learn about important issues in their communities, they do not know what questions are being discussed in their city council meetings, or being debated by the members of their local school boards. Without that basic information, citizens are unable to participate in civic life, and their views go unheeded by our elected leaders. Media consolidation harms equal opportunity for all. Concentrated ownership reinforces the economic barriers keeping women and minorities from entering the broadcast industry, both as professionals and as owners. Corporate consolidation also marginalizes certain Americans in other ways.