Media Makers, Have Your Say!-FCC Call for Comments and the Free Press Community Media Survey

The Federal Communications Commission has issued an unprecedented call for comments on the future of media, and the information needs of communities in a digital age. If you're concerned about this topic, don't miss this chance to weigh in on the debate about how policy can shape our media ecosystem. You don't need to be a lawyer or a lobbyist to contribute; as the call for comments notes:

The future of media is a topic of great consequence to all Americans, so this discussion should not be the purview of only communications companies and their Washington representatives. All Americans rely on the availability of national, international and local news and information. Consumers can offer views or analysis either through the new website (www.fcc.gov/futureofmedia [2]) or by using the traditional Commission Electronic Comment Filing System.

This promises to be an interesting and controversial process; we'll be following its progress here on the site.

UPDATE: Don't have time to make your own submission? Comment here and we'll add it to the comments we're submitting to the agency.

The FCC's inquiry dovetails with a variety of other research efforts to track the current state of media in different sectors. One notable effort is the Community Media Survey [3] that media advocacy group The Free Press just launched. Do you work at a local cable access, independent radio, or print outlet? Take the time to fill this out to make sure your perspective is heard.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be profiling other research projects related to public media 2.0.