I have just returned from St. Louis, Missouri, where 2,500 media producers, academics and activists gathered for the National Conference on Media Reform. The common bond that brought us together is the core belief that average people must have access to media. In addition, the media must serve as a check and balance on the government. This is essential to our democracy. These are exciting times for alternative media. We have many outlets for exercising our first amendment rights. The internet opens doors to independent producers with video streaming, blogs, and web sites. In Minneapolis we have many community newspapers, community radio stations like KFAI, KMOJ and KBEM, and public access television in Minneapolis on MTN. These were the kinds of media organizations that came together at the conference.   Two sitting and two retired FCC (Federal Communications Commission) commissioners addressed the conference. They spoke about their opposition to the policies of Michael Powell, who as chair of the FCC developed changes that would have made it easier for large media corporations to enlarge their media holdings. These new laws would dramatically change the landscape of our current telecommunications law, and our airwaves. Powell's policies were passed by the FCC but have been blocked in Congress. It is widely believed that these same laws will now be enacted piecemeal, rather than in the original package. These changes are sought by the same organizations that also cover the news. This could explain why news about last year's vote by the FCC did not receive the major story coverage in the mainstream press that it deserved. It will be up to organized citizens to seek out information on these proposals through independent media sources. Speakers at the conference were optimistic that this could be done. New coalitions of organization both on the progressive as well as conservative sides have already come together to work on this issue.   Public Access television stations like MTN remain one of the most vital and open alternative media outlets. The position of public access channels on cable outlets across the country also gives them a level of visibility that some other forms of alternative media do not enjoy. Now more than ever, it is important to continue to support MTN and its mission. - Pam Colby