It's troubling that the Federal Communications Commission chairman visited Cambridge, on Feb. 25, but failed to address the single-most important issue in today's communications landscape: the startling decrease of minority media ownership and the FCC's pattern of antidiversity policies. ("FCC chief says Net providers can't block access 'arbitrarily,' " Feb. 26.)
It has become increasingly apparent that this FCC is not addressing the needs of people of color.
The FCC has passed media-concentration rules that allow multinational companies to push local and minority media stations out of business and has sought new rules that hand over precious space on cable television to special interests. And it is trying to railroad through rules that will "weed out" minority programming.
This shocking pattern has raised enough eyebrows that the civic community, minority activists, and leaders in Congress are united in calling for the FCC to stop its war on media diversity. It is a shame that this troubling record was not on the agenda at last week's FCC hearing in Cambridge.
Karen L. Payne
President
NAACP-Boston Branch
We are told countless women do not know the first thing about financial matters, since they are busy taking care of their families and leave these matters up to their husbands. I had always come to the conclusion that this was a bad thing; that we, as women, should take a more proactive stance on our careers, saving for retirement, and taking care of ourselves financially.
In this day and age with divorce rates so high, it is vital to make career and financial stability of the utmost importance and not just rely on our husbands to take care of us. However, then I read Penelope Trunk's article, and was shocked to see her suggest that in all actuality it is more important to have a husband before you are 30, or you are doomed to a depressed and meaningless existence.
I am not married, am fast approaching 30, and I have no children. And yet I am very proud of myself for having a wonderful job, being a homeowner on my own with no help from a male, and have built up quite a savings. Children may be a joy to have, but a great many women find happiness in their careers and in knowing that they can take care of themselves later in life.
Sarah Chiappetta
Cambridge
Male infertility is a little talked about but equally serious problem in our society. The myth of men being able to father children well into their 80s must give way to realities such as: chromosomal damage to sperm as men age causing birth defects such as Down Syndrome, undiagnosed hormonal conditions causing testicular failure, genetic disorders like Klinefelter's Syndrome, and many more that affect men's reproductive health.
A man's biological clock ticks just as loudly as a woman's and the sooner men realize that they too must get serious at a younger age, if they want to have children, the better their chances of success will be. The road of infertility is paved with much heartbreak - men should be as concerned about these issues as they are about their careers.
If you're a couple struggling with infertility, organizations like Resolve of the Bay State (resolve ofthebaystate.org) can help.
J. Petricelli
Brighton
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