FCC Is Set to Take Fresh Look At Media Ownership

FCC IS SET TO TAKE FRESH LOOK AT MEDIA OWNERSHIP
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amy Schatz Amy.Schatz@wsj.com]
With Republicans in the majority at the Federal Communications Commission for the first time in 14 months, the agency is poised to begin tackling a host of contentious issues, including changes to media ownership limits. Even before Commissioner McDowell was confirmed, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin had begun circulating proposals among the other commissioners to reopen two issues: media ownership limits and a requirement that cable operators carry multiple channels from local broadcasters after the transition to digital television instead of just one. A vote to reopen the debate of media ownership limits may occur at the FCC's regularly scheduled meeting next month, agency officials said. The FCC will take a comprehensive look at what changes should be made, but the review isn't expected to be completed this year. Even the whiff of possible FCC action has been enough to prompt a stir. Senators Trent Lott (R-MS) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) last week sent a letter asking Chairman Martin to have the commission address the issue of local broadcast content before acting on new media ownership rules. An FCC task force was created in 2004 to study the issue, but no report has been issued. Meanwhile, the cable industry is gearing up to oppose Martin's must-carry proposal, which has been on broadcasters' wish-list for several years.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114894537770865776.html?mod=todays_us_page_one
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