Editor

FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps will be the guest of honor at a breakfast for AFMA members at the American Film Market Thursday, February 26 at 8:00 AM at Le Merigot Hotel in Santa Monica, it was announced by Jean M. Prewitt, President and Chief Executive Officer, AFMA. The breakfast will provide the opportunity for an open dialogue between the Commissioner and AFMA members about issues of mutual concern.

AFMA is the global trade association of independent distributors and producers of motion picture and television programming. The annual American Film Market (AFM) is the world's largest motion picture trade event. The AFM is a global marketplace where more than $500 million in motion picture and television production and distribution deals are closed annually.

Mr. Copps is one of five commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission, the federal regulator of the telecommunications, cable and broadcast industries. He has been the FCC's most outspoken foe of media consolidation. Copps filed a passionate dissent during the 2001-2003 media consolidation proceedings, when the FCC declared that it would liberalize existing rules, allowing broadcasters to own stations reaching a larger share of the national audience and allowing increased ownership of multiple stations in individual markets.

"There has been a steady erosion of opportunities for independents in the United States as
distribution channels increasingly are part of large, vertical integrated media conglomerates," commented Ms. Prewitt. "We have seen this phenomenon in theatrical outlets, video stores, broadcast and cable television. This session with Commissioner Copps at the AFM provides an opportunity for the independents to explain their business model and perspective and to learn directly how future communications policy will be shaped."