The Commission hears from expert panelists regarding overcoming barriers to communications financing. The purpose of the hearing is to enhance the knowledge of the Commission and attendees about: (i) the present state of capital markets as those markets impact ownership diversity in the media and telecom industries and, particularly, the success of minorities and women entrepreneurs; (ii) how financing is secured for new, diverse, resource-limited ventures, focusing on actual problems that have been encountered by women and minorities attempting to secure financing for media and telecom deals; and (iii) potential ways the Commission can help facilitate financing opportunities for minorities and women.

• The audio/video recording of the FCC hearing is available on the website of HITN.
  Audio/Video Webcast

• Kevin J. Martin
  FCC Chairman
  

• Michael J. Copps
  FCC Commissioner
  Statement: Word | Acrobat

• Jonathan S. Adelstein
  FCC Commissioner
  Statement: Word | Acrobat

• Deborah Taylor Tate
  FCC Commissioner
  Statement: Word | Acrobat

• Robert M. McDowell
  FCC Commissioner
  Statement: Word | Acrobat

Panel Discussion 1 - Successfully Securing Equity Financing:

• Raul Alarcon
  Chief Executive Officer, Spanish Broadcasting System
  

• Percy Berger
  Managing Partner, Dempster Group
  

• Pastor Delman Coates
  Enough Is Enough Campaign for Corp. Responsibility in Entertainment
  Statement

• James Fleming, Jr.
  Partner, Columbia Capital
  

• Ronald Gordon
  President & CEO, ZGS Communications
  

• Anita Stephens Graham
  Partner, Opportunity Capital Partners
  

• Reginald Hollinger
  Managing Partner, Quetzal/JPMorgan Partners
  

• Terry L. Jones
  Managing General Partner, Syncom Funds
  

• Brian Rich, Managing Partner
  Catalyst Investors
  Statement

• Andy Schwartzman
  President & CEO, Media Access Project
  Statement

• Diane Sutter
  President & CEO, ShootingStar Broadcasting
  

• Frank Washington
  Chairman & CEO, Tower of Babel LLC
  

Panel Discussion 2 - Successfully Securing Loans:

• Charles J. Dreifus
  Managing Director, CIT Communications, Media & Entertainment
  Statement

• Leo Hindery, Jr.
  Managing Partner, InterMedia Partners
  Statement

• George Ivie
  CEO & Executive Director, Media Ratings Council
  Statement

• William Lisecky
  Managing Director, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc./Investment
  

• Chesley Maddox-Dorsey
  President & COO, Access.1 Communications Corp.
  

• Steve Morris
  Chairman, President, CEO, Arbitron
  

• Susan Patrick
  Co-owner, Managing Partner, Patrick Communications
  

• Michael V. Roberts, JD
  Chairman & CEO, The Roberts Companies
  Statement

• John Stevens Robling, Jr.
  Managing Director, LIATI Capital
  

• Mayela Rosales
  Executive Vice President of Azteca America, SWFL
  Statement

• Charles Warfield
  President, Inner City Broadcasting Corporation
  

• James Winston
  Executive Director, National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters
  Statement

7/25/08
FCC En Banc Hearing and Conference on Overcoming Barriers to Communications Financing, July 29, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

7/25/08
FCC Announces Location Change for July Open Meeting in New York City.
News Release: Word | Acrobat

7/22/08
FCC Announces July Open Meeting on Overcoming Barriers to Communications Financing at Barnard College.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

7/2/08
FCC En Banc Hearing and Conference on Overcoming Barriers to Communications Financing in New York City, July 29, 2008.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat