Coalition Organizes in Support of Mark Lloyd

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/09/16/coalition_organizes_in_support.html?wprss=44

More than 50 public interest groups wrote Wednesday to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the agency to speak out in support of its chief diversity officer, Mark Lloyd, who has suffered a recent barrage of criticism from right-wing commentators.

Glenn Beck, the conservative host of Fox News, has headed the attacks on Lloyd, who has called for public broadcasting outlets to receive greater funding from private broadcasters. Beck said that Lloyd's proposals, which were outlined in a 2006 book written before he joined the FCC in July, would hamper free speech and put "voices like mine" out of business.

The advocacy groups, including the Free Press and the Center for American Progress, struck back today, accusing Beck and other critics of making "false and misleading claims" about Lloyd's work

"Mr. Lloyd is a respected historian, an experienced civil rights leader and a dedicated public servant," their letter said, issued ahead of Thurday's oversight hearing at the House Communications Subcommittee with the five FCC commissioners.

"We ask you to speak out against the falsehoods and misinformation that are threatening to derail important work by Congress and the Federal Communications Commission on media and technology policies that would benefit all Americans," the groups wrote.


The full text of the letter and a list of signatories is below:
To: FCC Commissioners and Congressional Leaders
http://www.freepress.net/node/72697