COURT TEMPORARILY BLOCKS NEW FEDERAL MEDIA RULES

[Kolesar]

Hey, this is good news!
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/fcc_09-04-03.html

COURT TEMPORARILY BLOCKS NEW FEDERAL MEDIA RULES

An appeals court on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Federal Communication Commission's new federal rules that would have eased limits on media ownership from taking effect as scheduled Thursday.

The three-judge panel of the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia issued the temporary stay order, pending a full judicial review of the case. At the same time, the court made clear its decision was not based on its evaluation of the FCC's new regulations.

Circuit Chief Judge Anthony Scirica, who headed the three-judge panel, said that not granting the stay, and allowing the FCC rules to come into effect as scheduled, would have harmed the interests of the Prometheus Radio Project, a Philadelphia-based media activist group which initially filed the request, and other critics who worry the FCC regulations would further limit the diversity and local interests in the media.

"Given the magnitude of this matter, and the public's interest in reaching the proper resolution, a stay is warranted pending thorough and efficient judicial review," the judicial order stated.

A spokesman for the FCC told Reuters: "While we are disappointed by the decision by the court to stay the new rules, we will continue to vigorously defend them and look forward to a decision by the court on the merits."
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