HuffPo:

Earlier this month the FCC convened the final of six public hearings to air out concerns about this proposed rule change. I have watched, listened to or attended all of these hearings and one thing is clear. The public is single-mindedly opposed to more media consolidation.

Martin himself admitted recently that he remembers "only one" public witness calling for relaxation of media ownership rules at these hearings.

This public opposition is not just evident in the passion of the thousands of people who came to the FCC hearings in Seattle, Los Angeles, Nashville, Tampa, Harrisburg and Chicago. It's a fact reflected in the public record.

The last time the FCC tried to change the rules in 2003, millions of people contacted Congress and the FCC to oppose the changes, which were ultimately thrown out by the courts. My organization, Free Press, checked the filings and found that more than 99 percent of the public comments received by the FCC opposed changing the rules.

None of this has halted Martin's headlong rush to let loose a new wave of consolidation by the end of the year.

FreePress has this .pdf report as well: 10 Facts Kevin Martin Doesn’t Want You to Know About His New Media Ownership Rules

FreePress has ways for you to get involved as well.

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Bill Moyers look at the FCC head Kevin Martin's full tilt toward media consolidation:

On November 2, 2007, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin announced that the Commission would hold the sixth and final public hearing on media consolidation November 9, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein blasted the Chairman's decision to give the public only five business days notice before the hearing: "With such short notice, many people will be shut out ... This is outrageous and not how important media policy should be made."

You can watch the entire episode on PBS.

(guest blogged by Bill W.)

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Four years ago, without public input, the FCC rolled back 30 yr old rules that limited a single company's ability to be able to dominate local TV, newspaper and radio media markets. Thankfully, the rules changes triggered a massive public response and through legislation and lawsuit, they were defeated. Now FCC chair Kevin Martin is attempting to do it again by trying to push through a similar set of changes allowing further media consolidation as soon as December 18. This time, we needn't wait until we have been sandbagged. You can help by contacting Congress and the FCC now to stop Kevin Martin before he gets away with slipping this one by us.

Bill Moyers then goes one further and focuses on one glaring example of how our media is already failing us today:

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BILL MOYERS: It's important who owns the press, as we've just seen and heard...but it's also important who decides what is news.

Why wasn't it news last weekend when more than 100,000 people turned out in 11 cities across the country to protest the occupation of Iraq ... but if you blinked while watching the national news, you wouldn't have known it was a story? ...(transcript)

It's no wonder why groups like Code Pink must go to such lengths to make sure the overwhelming voice of public opinion against the war isn't ignored entirely. Thankfully we at least still have Bill Moyers to help make sure that doesn't happen. As always you can watch the full episodes on the PBS website.

Bob Geiger: Frist blames Dems for "do-nothing congress," and gets his ass handed to him. After the mid-terms, expect to see a new GOP boss and even Jim “Iraq is nothing short of a miracle” Inhofe heading the Armed Services Committee

The Hollywood Liberal: We gotta educate 'em...!

Stop Big Media: Media consolidation shuts out women and minorities

Lassiter Space: Republican campaign staffers are posing as Democrats to spam progressive blogs in NJ.

My Dem.org: Are you registered to vote? Are you sure? This site was created to give you the tools you need to make sure your vote counts.

AmandaAcrossAmerica: One video blogger interviews another. Amanda talks with Josh Wolf who is currently in federal custody for refusing to turn over video material to authorities.