On June 2, the Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on whether to relax the rules for owning American news media. Further relaxing of the rules is the absolute last thing we need unless you happen to want more Clear Channel and Fox News. Increased deregulation is sure to make it easier for the Rupert Murdochs of the world to buy up existing cable channels, radio frequencies and print publications, frequently in the same region of the country. The negative effect this sort of thing has on civic democracy is well documented.

There are a number of groups working hard to resist the drive toward further deregulation, including the Media Reform Network and the Center for Digital Democracy. (Click here for a list.) Check them out if you want to get involved in media reform. Also see Jeff Chester and Gary Larson’s Twelve Step Plan for Media Democracy, which offers useful talking points and activist opportunities.

You can also contact your elected reps and tell them to preserve current media ownership rules for the sake of competition, market fairness and diversity of ideas. It’ll take about ninety seconds using the Nation‘s new online activism kit. And, as much as they don’t seem to listen, it could help make a difference.

Finally, The Nation‘s own John Nichols has been carefully tracking the politics at the FCC and has written numerous Nation articles on why the stakes are so high in the current battle. See five selected pieces, all by John, for background and further info.

FCC: Public Be Damned (with Robert McChesney), June 2 issue of The Nation.

I Want My BBC, May 8 (The Online Beat).

Musicians Against Media Monopolies, May 4 (The Online Beat).

The Boss Defends Dissenters, April 23 (The Online Beat).

Media Democracy’s Moment (with Robert McChesney), February 24 issue of The Nation.