F.C.C., Public On Media. Controlled, Frenzied, Pandomium in Scenic Monterey.

by Joe B.

F.C.C. Hearing/Public Access’s Future

F.C.C. Federeal Communications Commission roams about the country gathering evidence on how big business mass radio/TV impacts on local community radio,public access.

This highly important event happening on day off-Wednesday,21st of July 2004.

Basic job instructions: Have info sheet (paper(s)) showing time,place,where, and if its one-way (You get there free,get back best way you can) or free trip to and from event.

This event is a go-free/back free trip-whew good for all of who is going.

Early to Muddy’s Coffee on Valencia Street, near a bus stop and there I sat waiting for co worker’s.

Ace,and Dharma weren’t able to make it to our rendezvous only T.J. and few other’s standing on the corner waiting just as I’m doing.

We chat a bit before one or two women have cell phones calling people.

Team Media Alliance offers Poor Magazine to-from rides in one of their cars a Volvo, a sturdy looking vehicle driven by Ana,Director of Media Alliance.

With seats firmly buckled front and back, Ana’s map our trip begins. Long,hot,sparse,country,a pit stop,we make it Monterey then passed it after going through a tunnel.
"acidental" topless color photo'n phone,address(Women only) also M.O.'s (hey,I work at P-M-I that's it.

Snail or Email

Joe at:
1230
PO Box #204

S.F.,Ca. 94102

Asking for directions at a gas station,we retrace drive path finding the Convention Center,parking area which T.J. gave Ana $5 for all day parking after T.J. and Ana exchange addresses we all look for where tickets are given out.

Arriving 11:45 or noon we’re able to get our free tickets.

Yellow or blue yellow is overflow room,blue is John Steinbeck room,reserved for news media people if some people are unable to show up.

The Colin?

Room will be invited in the larger though formally limited seated Stienbeck area.

Outside Media Alliance have signs written up and more being created,usually there is buffet or a free food of some kind.

Not this time it was being catered the cash register tips me off of pay-for-food deal it will be a long day only water is free.

Luckily,a Media Alliance member has two black laundry bags of fresh bread.

John, and I have raisin bread washed down with water then both of us get on a free trolley showing famous sights in Monterey’s history.

I’m feeling tired so I’m on the 2nd or 3rd floors siting in a chair drinking clean,clear,catered water resting its gonna to be a long day.

In five more hours the public and some F.C.C. members will converse on the public airways.

I go up and down the escalators and outside to keep me from falling asleep.

Yes,water inside bread outside I am being reintroduced to the concept of the brown bag lunch.

There are reasons while the brown bad lunch still persists.

1) Its inexpensive homemade fare.
2) Children. mothers, fathers, older siblings know what I mean.
3) Every once in a while, you don’t want to spend your money, you just want to be creative with your food by making it yourself.
4)You do it yourself, the way you want it, and you don’t pay four bucks for a sandwich.

I have exactly $1.75.

The 26 Valencia bus takes me to 24th and Valencia next to Muddies Coffee Shop.

The other 50 cents given by one of my bosses for an emergency phone call in case I’m late,get lost, or miss the connecting ride.

Didn’t do either,but with 50 cents in my pocket theirs little I can by so like an old friend of my mom’s I’ll try what he did.

The guy goes all the way to Reno, Nevada with a dime, did some gambling, came back Oakland, or Berkeley with the same dime!

Lets skip some hours as police gather, placing, orange painted traffic blocking equipment outside the convention center.

Mr. Bill Sneckner,of Channel 5 interviewed me he is one of 3 or 4 interviews I gave to other media outlets.

Spooky, I’d say because being part of media I don’t expect to be the interviewer not interviewee.

In line for tickets and more camera’s, mikes and lovely women on both sides of the mike.

To me it looks like Network,Cable, mainstream, and Alternative Media are devouring each other like a dragons eating their own tails.

I believe after standing in line seeing elderly men, women, some younger with children in arms patiently standing, sitting,waiting to be let in then ushered into the overflow room to sit, listen to jazz,with two large TV screens one with F.C.C. on it the other with words "We want to here from you."

Yes, tired, fuming, thinking of other people waiting and waiting.

When a gray haired, wiry man ask for anyone to express their view on public access television I’m angry enough to go.

I was mad at the F.C.C. for the delays and said so. I’m wondering if I did the right thing but at the time my brain wasn’t functioning on all it cells at the time.

On a comment page along with two F.C.C. folder full of information about it and how as citizens we can be part of the solution.

I had enough bread and water to feel full.

All of us from the overflow room are now in the Stienbeck room while seated below highlighted are FCC Panelists, Davy D., and Ms. Belva Davis to name a few.

End of Part 1.


1095 7th & Market Street,

S.F. Ca.94103

For the odd