FCC Big Media Ownership Rules Hearing C-Span 3 NOW!- Say Good Bye to Democracy...

[Breeze54]

C-Span 3
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan3_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS3

FCC's Contested Cross-Ownership Rule Set for Vote

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/17/AR2007121701825.html

By Frank Ahrens
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 18, 2007; Page D01

The Federal Communications Commission is pushing ahead to pass a rule today that would allow more consolidation of local media ownership in the nation's largest cities, despite the fresh threat of a legislative rebuke and continued protests from advocacy groups.

The rule, proposed by Chairman Kevin J. Martin, a Republican, has been assailed by members of his own commission, denounced by a unanimous vote of the Senate Commerce Committee and called harmful to media diversity by a number of groups who say Martin is rushing it through without adequate public comment.

However, Martin's action is backed by the White House, which over the weekend successfully headed off a House Democratic attempt to deny the FCC money to implement the new rule, according to a number of sources.

Approval of the media-ownership plan would partially lift a 32-year-old ban that prevents one company from owning a newspaper and television or radio station in the same city. Under Martin's plan, a newspaper could own one television or radio station in the nation's 20 largest media markets, assuming certain conditions are met. A newspaper could not own one of the top-four rated television stations, for instance. Companies such as Tribune and Richmond's Media General have argued for the rule change.

In the nation's approximately 190 other media markets, a company could petition the FCC to allow a merger between a newspaper and broadcast station, but the deal would have to pass tests to be approved. Opponents of the plan say the tests are so vague as to be meaningless.

More....

GO Jonathan Adelston!! Tell them off!! :woohoo:

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan3_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS3

[Breeze54]

1. "The FCC has never attempted such an act of defiance against Congress," - Jonathan S. Adelstein

FCC's Contested Cross-Ownership Rule Set for Vote

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

Snip--->

Martin is thought to have the three votes required from the five-person commission to pass the rule, with Republicans Robert M. McDowell and Deborah Taylor Tate expected to join him. Democratic commissioners Michael J. Copps and Jonathan S. Adelstein plan to vote against it.
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"The FCC has never attempted such an act of defiance against Congress," which is threatening to overturn the vote, Adelstein said in an interview yesterday.

[Breeze54]

2. Did Jonathan S. Adelstein just say that in the dead of night

last night 200 waivers were submitted??? :grr:

[NashVegas]

3. Clear Channel Is Already Betting On the Outcome

CC just fired the entire local on-air staff at KOSS. 10 CC peeps in Milwaukie just lost their jobs, too.

[Breeze54]

5. CC was probably submitting waivers last night!

That sucks!!! :grr:

More of that shit will be coming!!

[Breeze54]

4. Hey Debra Taylor-Tate?

[ProfessorGAC]

6. The Tribune Has Owned WGN For Decades

I don't get this. Apparently there are already allowances for this. The Chicago Tribune owns both a 50,000 watt clear channel AM station, and WGN-TV.

Why do we need a new set of regs for something that already happens?
The Professor

[Breeze54]

9. Now it's wide open to even more consolidation!

Read some info here...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2487420#2488197

Read more at http://www.StopBigMedia.com

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Yeah, But That's Not My Quandary?

The rule they're trying to change prevents ownership of a paper and a TV station. But, that's been the case in Chicago since i was a little kid, and i'm in my 50's.

Let's be clear; i oppose over concentration of media like most here. I just don't understand what rule needs to be changed to allow something that already happens.
The Professor

[ProfessorGAC]

12. I Found My Answer In Another Thread

It has been allowed under certain circumstances where the media diversity was already broad enough. That explains the Tribune/WGN thing. Special waivers were granted when there were more than one newspaper and a plethora of radio and TV stations.

Now i get it. They want to eliminate the special waiver requirement.
The Professor

[Breeze54]

14. I gave you the same answer and the links...

;)

Now there isn't any regulation...

Clear Channel and Faux Suxs are now going to have a field day!!

[ProfessorGAC]

15. I Missed That. Sorry

Brain got stuck in neutral for a half hour or so.

It's just that, as a life long resident of Chicagoland, i never got the issue since they already allowed it. But, the "allowing" is under special circumstances. Martin wants to eliminate any need to review circumstances.

I get it. Finally!
GAC

[Breeze54]

19. No worries...

I'm half asleep myself. :hi:

[Breeze54]

13. Because there have been some waivers but

that all changes today.

Approval of the media-ownership plan would partially lift a 32-year-old ban that prevents one company from owning a newspaper and television or radio station in the same city. Under Martin's plan, a newspaper could own one television or radio station in the nation's 20 largest media markets, assuming certain conditions are met. A newspaper could not own one of the top-four rated television stations, for instance. Companies such as Tribune and Richmond's Media General have argued for the rule change.

In the nation's approximately 190 other media markets, a company could petition the FCC to allow a merger between a newspaper and broadcast station, but the deal would have to pass tests to be approved. Opponents of the plan say the tests are so vague as to be meaningless.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/17/AR2007121701825.html

http://www.StopBigMedia.com

[Breeze54]

7. Say good bye (for reals) to Democracy!

"the mass deregulation of the mass communication is the end of democracy"

:cry: :grr:

[plcdude]

8. this is what

so many have been talking about in so many areas i.e. the total disregard for the public. Copps was fantastic. There were revisions and additions made as late as 10:30 a.m. and one made around 2:00 a.m. this morning. Open, deliberative, and transparent is not how this has been done. The overwhelming feedback provided the commission from the people and the congressional oversight committees is being ignored. We need to respond personally and we need congress to act.

[Breeze54]

10. We've been responding personnally for months and all week!

:grr:

See post above

and this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2486059&mesg_id=2486059

[AzDar]

16. Didn't Sens. Kerry and Obama issue a warning to the FCC to suspend the vote or face sanctions?

I thought I read something about this.......

[Breeze54]

17. Them AND Ted Stevens and 20 more senators!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2487420#2488197

UPDATE 1- 25 Senators threaten to revoke FCC media ownership vote

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews...

Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:43pm EST

By Peter Kaplan

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) -

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators threatened on Monday to override the Federal Communications Commission
if the agency votes to loosen media ownership restrictions at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

A group of 25 senators said they sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, warning they would
"move legislation to revoke the rule and nullify the vote" if the FCC goes ahead with the media
ownership rule changes.

The group, including Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, a Democrat from Hawaii, and
the panel's top Republican, Ted Stevens of Alaska, said the FCC had not spent enough time studying
the issue and seeking input from the public.

[Breeze54]

18. Go Code Pink!!! -- Go Medea!!!!

"the mass deregulation of the mass communication is the end of democracy"

http://www.onlisareinsradar.com/archives/001335.php

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

-------

That putz immediately Martin takes a break to silence them, like he has the American people! :grr:

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan3_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS3

[Breeze54]

20. Is anyone watching this on TV?

Can you see who is in the audience? Namely any pink shirts?

[bdamomma]

21. and that Kevin J. Martin, is another tool what a pissant he is.

[Breeze54]

22. You got him pegged, Alyce!

Little Mutha Focker!!! :grr:

[marmar]

23. We said goodbye to that about seven years ago.......

:(

[Breeze54]

24. No we didn't!!! -- It was stopped in 2003 !!

It was stopped by the courts!!

This is a complete over turning of the consolidation rules!!! :grr:

http://www.freepress.net/actionnetwork/node/335

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2487420#2488197

www.stopbigmedia.com

[Breeze54]

25. That idiot Tate is a complete moran!!!

Screw her!! :grr:

But a huge thanks to Jonathan S. Adelstein!! :yourock: