Gov't rewriting media ownership rules, may allow big companies to get even bigger

[babylonsister]

FCC Considering New Media Rules

By JOHN DUNBAR | Associated Press Writer
1:44 PM CST, November 7, 2007


WASHINGTON - For the second time in four years, the government is rewriting media ownership rules, a process that probably will allow big companies to get even bigger.

While the stakes this time are smaller, the furor surrounding the process has, if anything, grown.

Democratic members of the Federal Communications Commission have accused the chairman, Republican Kevin Martin, of calling public hearings without adequate notice and rushing the review process. Martin wants a vote by year's end.

Well-organized opponents have staged protests, attacked the FCC's economic studies as biased in favor of liberalizing the rules and complained that the agency is not doing enough to promote minority ownership.

Congress is getting involved, too. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee planned to hear testimony on the issues Thursday. A House panel has scheduled a hearing for Dec. 6.

The FCC's final public hearing on media ownership is set for Friday in Seattle.

more...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-media-ownership,0,7871485.story

[blondeatlast]

1. Note how this all comes down when there's a turrallurt?

Grrr... :mad:

[babylonsister]

2. I don't understand why they can't rein in Kevin Martin. nt

[blm]

3. Notice it comes right before another election where GOP needs corpmedia to

further their agenda?

Dan Rather has admitted that corporate media NEEDED Bush to stay in office.

Note the DATE:
Kerry Seeks to Reverse FCC's "Wrongheaded Vote"
Commission Decision May Violate Laws Protecting Small Businesses; Kerry to File Resolution of Disapproval
Monday, June 2, 2003

WASHINGTON - Senator John Kerry today announced plans to file a "Resolution of Disapproval" as a means to overturn today's decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise media ownership caps and loosen various media cross-ownership rules.

Kerry will soon introduce the resolution seeking to reverse this action under the Congressional Review Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act on the grounds that the decision may violate the laws intended to protect America's small businesses and allow them an opportunity to compete.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerry expressed concern that the FCC's decision will hurt localism, reduce diversity, and will allow media monopolies to flourish. This raises significant concerns about the potential negative impacts the decision will have on small businesses and their ability to compete in today's media marketplace.

In a statement released earlier today regarding the FCC's decision, Kerry said:

"Nothing is more important in a democracy than public access to debates and information, which lift up our discourse and give Americans an opportunity to make honest informed choices. Today's wrongheaded vote by the Republican members of the FCC to loosen media ownership rules shows a dangerous indifference to the consolidation of power in the hands of a few large entities rather than promoting diversity and independence at the local level. The FCC should do more than rubber stamp the business plans of narrow economic interests.

"Today's vote is a complete dereliction of duty. The Commissioners are well aware that these rules greatly influence the competitive structure of the industry and protect the public's access to multiple sources of information and media. It is the Commission's responsibility to ensure that the rules serve our national goals of diversity, competition, and localism in media. With today's vote, they shirked that responsibility and have dismissed any serious discussion about the impact of media consolidation on our own democracy."

[blondeatlast]

5. Talk about an enabling relationship. Could W possibly exist now

without the lapdog press?

And the RW keeps the press just hungry enough to make them slavish.

[blm]

6. Exactly.

And idiot Dem 'strategists' won't say a word about it because they make their money pulling lawmakers over to the right where corporations and corporate media want them. So....2000 turned out to be ALL Al Gore's fault. 2004 ended up to be ALL John Kerry's fault.

[blondeatlast]

4. In other words, all Fox, all the time, locally.

Because the reds in my local market aren't red enough already. :eyes:

Geez.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Send your comments to the FCC and your congressional delegation

and get your friiends to do the same.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Contacts

Chairman Kevin J. Martin: [e-mail]
Commissioner Michael J. Copps: [e-mail]
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: [e-mail]
Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate: [e-mail]
Commissioner Robert McDowell: [e-mail]

Copps and Adelstein are the two dems in the FCC

[blm]

9. Thanks for the vigilance.

.

[Blackhatjack]

10. And thus the cozy relationship between Rupert Murdoch & HRC bears watching...

The gains in media consolidation under the Bush Administration stand an excellent chance of being 'rolled back' by a new Democratic President in 2008 and Democratic controlled Congress, UNLESS the new Democratic President decides that the 'roll back' is not necessary --for some reason.

Watch Murdoch money and influence should be the Democratic mantra.

[blm]

12. Exactly - Obama came out the other day against the expansion and wrote

a column with Kerry warning about the impact the decision will have.

Well - expect Obama to get some of the backlash Kerry got for targeting the FCC and media owners during HIS primary run in 2003.

[madokie]

11. I don't see any 'may' in there, it's will