McLaughlin: Government Secrecy Worsens Info Divide

Sean McLaughlin, Executive Director of Access Humboldt

Impoverishing Democracy

by Sean McLaughlin, Special to AOL News, July 22, 2010 http://www.aolnews.com/opinion/article/opinion-feds-meet-in-secret-on-national-communications-rules/19563441

Thomas Jefferson once observed, “Information is the currency of democracy.”

That’s never been more true than it is today. We live, after all, in an information age, one that’s seen a virtual explosion in new sources of information — ranging from newspapers and TV to talk radio, cable news, millions upon millions of blogs, even billboards. Today, particularly on the Web, openness is supposed to be the watchword when it comes to communication.

But, oddly enough, rules that govern much of our information currency are being written by regulatory agencies and lawmakers in closed private meetings, accountable to no one. Three recent examples:

• The Los Angeles Times reported on the “redaction” of filings to the Federal Communications Commission by Comcast/NBCU in their move to merge the largest broadband media provider with one of the largest content producers. The full page of blacked-out text makes a clear statement about the information you will not see.

• The Federal Communications Commission disclosed that they are convening closed, private meetings to broker a policy deal regarding future regulation of Internet service in the U.S.

• Congressional leadership staff began convening closed-door meetings to outline plans for an overhaul of U.S. communications law. The public is not invited — until after the agenda has been set.

Secret meetings and redacted filings may serve private interests, which can be expected to look out for their own needs, even if it comes at the expense of the public good. But the real question is why federal communications agencies, and congressional committees charged with overseeing federal communications laws, are acquiescing to this.

Read more at AOL News.