Washinton Post New FCC media rules blocked

""The Commission has not sufficiently justified its particular chosen numerical limits for local television ownership, local radio ownership, and cross-ownership of media within local markets," said the 218-page opinion by the appellate court in Philadelphia."

"FCC Chairman Michael Powell said the ruling was "deeply troubling" and would make it harder for the agency to limit greater media consolidation.

"This has created a clouded and confused state of media law," Powell said in a statement."

redux [09.16.03]
Washinton Post Senate Approves Measure to Undo FCC Rules

"The Senate voted 55 to 40 today to wipe out all of the Federal Communication Commission's controversial new media rules, employing a little used legislative tool for overturning agency regulations."

"Dorgan's resolution is the most sweeping of several challenges to the FCC's rules, which make it easier for media corporations to buy more newspapers and television stations but tighten radio ownership rules."

redux [09.05.03]
Detroit Free Press FCC Rules: Court, Congress act to correct commission's mistake

"Checks and balances work.

That constitutional concept has been put to the test this summer, after the Federal Communications Commission -- part of the executive branch -- passed controversial new rules allowing big media companies to get even bigger. The rules were put on hold Wednesday by a federal court and ought to be booted back to the FCC by Congress, which is pursuing a rare exercise of its power to override executive branch decisions."

Online Journalism Review FCC Chairman Michael Powell Sees Bright Future for Online Media

"When does a community have enough independent media outlets in this age of increasing consolidation? How many different ways should consumers be able to access news? When does competition exist?"

"Powell's belief that consumers have enough diverse forms of access to news and information to warrant loosening the media ownership rules stems in no small measure from his own use of technology and media. The admitted techno-geek thrives on technology, weaving it throughout his personal and professional worlds."

redux [08.21.03]
The Seattle Times FCC wants media to think local

"Powell said yesterday the FCC would form a task force to determine whether broadcasters -- some of whom have been denounced for airing generic newscasts that originate in centralized studios -- should be compelled to produce more local news and other programming.

Powell said the agency would begin a formal inquiry into rules that would promote "localism" at TV and radio stations."

mediareform.network FCC asks Congress to draft new media rules

"Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell on Monday asked U.S. lawmakers to draft new media ownership rules, instead of simply undoing recent rules that relaxed restrictions on ownership.

"If we're going to do this, let's pass real laws ... that give the commission more specific guidance about what we want, not just an anti-vote," Powell told reporters after speaking to the Progress & Freedom Foundation Aspen Summit."

redux [08.07.03]
Editor & Publisher Media-Ownership Rules Face First Challenges

"Legal challenges to a Federal Communications Commission overhaul of media-ownership rules emerged Wednesday, with the regulations under fire both for allowing too few and too many mergers."

"Separately, organizations representing more than 600 local television stations affiliated with ABC, CBS, and NBC asked the court to reject the regulation that raised a TV ownership limit on the national reach of companies from 35% of U.S. households to 45%."

Mercury News House votes to throw out FCC media ownership rules

"Defying the will of the White House and the Republican-controlled Federal Communciations Commission, the House voted 400-21 today to overturn controversial rules adopted by the FCC in June that would allow a single company to own TV stations serving 45 percent of TV viewers nationwide.

`There's a great deal of consternation about that across the country,` said Rep. David Obey, D-Wisc., a leader in the move to throw out the FCC's media ownership rule changes. `In my view that is a severe threat to democracy.`"

redux [07.16.03]
CBS Marketwatch FCC's media rules dealt another blow

"On Wednesday, a House committee effectively voted to bar the new rules from taking effect. The vote follows a move by a group of senators to utilize an obscure law, called a "resolution of disapproval," also aimed at defeating the rule changes."

The bill still faces opposition from the Republican leadership in the House and a likely veto threat from the White House. Still, the latest maneuverings indicate that the attempt to roll back the new media-ownership regulations is gaining momentum."

redux [06.02.03]
Washington Post FCC Votes to Ease Media Ownership Rules

"The vote has engendered public opposition by lawmakers, consumer and advocacy groups and unaligned citizens who fear that further media consolidation will make it more difficult for those with minority viewpoints to get their message out. On Friday, the FCC's voice- and e-mail systems were temporarily shut down by a deluge of public comments. The agency has received more than 500,000 e-mails and postcards opposing the changes."

The Salt Lake Tribune Ivans: FCC Is the Slave to the Industry It Is Supposed to Regulate

"This is a gross scandal. The Center for Public Integrity has a stunning study out on the concentration of ownership in telecommunications. The even more stunning news is that the Federal Communications Commission, which theoretically represents you and me, is about to make all of it even worse. And behind this betrayal of the public trust is nothing but rotten, old-fashioned corruption. It's the old free-trip-to-Vegas ploy, on a grand scale.

The Public Integrity people examined the travel records of FCC employees and found that they have accepted 2,500 trips, costing nearly $2.8 million over the past eight years, paid for by the telecommunications and broadcast industries, which are, theoretically, "regulated" by the FCC."

Guardian Unlimited Gagged: 12 cities join media protest

"Perhaps unsurprisingly, the protests have been given little media coverage. "We're frozen out," said Karen Pomer, who attended a protest in Los Angeles. "All of this is benefiting conservative voices."

The Washington consumer watchdog, the Centre for Public Integrity, said that the FCC met with broadcasters 71 times in the run-up to the proposed rule changes but with consumer groups, just five."