FCC to Vote on Media Ownership Today

[babylonsister]

FCC to Vote on Media Ownership

By JOHN DUNBAR – 5 hours ago


WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite intense political pressure, the Federal Communications Commission is expected to approve a proposal Tuesday that will allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper — overturning a 32-year-old ban.

Republican Chairman Kevin Martin says his plan is a "relatively minor loosening" of the rule, but it has received a considerable amount of opposition.

On Monday, 25 senators, including four Republicans, sent him a letter threatening that if he goes ahead with the vote, they will move legislation to revoke the rule and nullify the commission's action.

But according to a letter that surfaced late Monday, it is clear the chairman has the full support of the White House. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez wrote Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Dec. 4 expressing the administration's opposition to legislation approved by the Senate Commerce Committee that would have delayed a vote.

The secretary wrote that the "the current ownership rules are significantly outdated in the modern media marketplace" and that the FCC has "crafted changes that appropriately take into account the myriad of news and information outlets that exist today."

more...

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hlYj9ojD7umgLJiTK_I0DfwU50iAD8TJO4E80

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. "...the chairman has the full support of the White House. "

Um, K-Mart is just implementing their policy, not the other way around.

[FormerDittoHead]

2. Let me guess. "It's best for the market if consolidation be allowed"... n/t

Why do they even get together? Some legal formality, I guess, in order to turn over the public airwaves to the highest bidder, even though that bidder may own all other media as well...

[Bitwit1234]

3. BUT congress told him if he did they had enough votes to

pass legislation that would negatate it. And I wish they could throw the wimp out on his ass.