All five FCC commissioners hosted a public hearing in Tampa yesterday to take comments about potential changes to media ownership rules. Localism, or more precisely the lack-thereof, was a hot topic.

Commissioner Michael Copps had some harsh words for the media not reflecting the local diversity of their markets, "You know, minorities are now nearly a third of our country's total population, but people of color own just 3.2 percent of the full-power commercial television stations and only about two percent of total broadcast assets. Could it be this is why minority interests and issues don't get covered very well?"

"Our media have an obligation to reflect our country's diversity. They have an obligation to nourish our country's diversity. It's a job not getting done," Copps added.

Many of those from the audience - reported in the range of 300 attendees - also felt that their local areas weren't being represented as they should be.

"If I want to hear local bands, I have to go to MySpace.com, even though there's a station just five miles away - but they only play preprogrammed junk," said Gavin Baker, a political science student at the University of Florida who drove down for the event.

"Anyone with a computer can now compete to serve the local audience," said Bill Carey, general manager of WFTS-TV and incoming president of the Florida Association of Broadcasters. Those new outlets are serious competitors for news, Carey said.

It seems that the FCC is giving a clear message here. Sirius and XM should take note.

[The Tampa Tribune via FMQB]