In an egregious example of political censorship by the corporate media powers that be, Comcast Cable rejected ads that the Peace Action Education Fund, an anti-war group, wanted to air during President Bush's State of the Union speech.
The Peace Action Education Fund had spent $5,000 to have six 30-second ads aired on CNN by Philadelphia-based Comcast beginning Tuesday night. The ads were to be broadcast in the Washington, D.C., area. But Comcast's legal department notified the group Tuesday morning that the ads would not air.
"This is an outrageous infringement on our First Amendment rights, in the center of our democracy, Washington, D.C.," said Rev. Robert Moore, executive director the the New Jersey based group. [Read AP Article]
"Comcast's rejection of an anti-war ad underscores the problem we have in the US because of media consolidation," said Jeff Chester, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Democracy, a media-advocacy group. [Read Entire CDD Statement]
A recent poster to San Francisco Indymedia is encouraging people to contact Comcast directly and complain.
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Comcast's rejection of an anti-war ad underscores the problem we have in the US because of media consolidation. An ever-decreasing number of conglomerates control access to TV. In the case of newly merged (with AT&T) Comcast, it now dominates the cable TV business (controlling 70% of subscribers in the top 20 markets). The FCC’s upcoming new policy on cable ownership will permit even fewer cable companies--perhaps just two--to control access to the majority of US households.
Comcast claims that its reason for rejecting the ad was because it could not "substantiate" the information. But Comcast is likely also engaged in currying favor with the Bush Administration, which approved its merger without any reservations or safeguards imposed. Comcast and other cable giants are now also seeking political support to head off congressional proposals that would rein-in skyrocketing monthly subscriber fees
This episode underscores why the FCC’s pro-cable monopoly position on broadband access must be reversed, and that cable (and other media) ownership rules need to be strengthened-not weakened. Up until now, the Internet has remained a free and open medium. But a recent FCC policy on cable broadband will allow giants like Comcast to undermine the Internet's non-discriminatory architecture.
Otherwise what should be a robust and diverse marketplace of ideas on TV and online will be held hostage by giants like Comcast.
Jeff Chester
Executive Director
Center for Digital Democracy
