Copps Decries FCC Inaction On Media Rules, Cable Merger

COPPS DECRIES FCC INACTION ON MEDIA RULES, CABLE MERGER
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps complained that the agency is dragging its feet on a court-ordered review of media ownership regulations and the proposed acquisition of bankrupt Adelphia Communications by Comcast and Time Warner. Immediate action on both matters would be to the Democrats' advantage because the agency is split 2-2 along party lines, pending the confirmation of Republican Robert McDowell to fill a fifth FCC seat. Reasoning that a GOP majority at the FCC would be less likely to impose tough conditions on the Adelphia purchase, Time Warner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Parsons originally urged the FCC to delay its review pending the addition of McDowell. But sources said Tuesday that Time Warner and Comcast subsequently have urged the FCC to proceed because the parties want the review completed by July 31, when they are permitted to abandon the deal under the terms of the agreement. Chairman Martin has stated that he is awaiting a full complement of regulators at the FCC before addressing media ownership. But on Tuesday, Tamara Lipper, a special adviser to Martin, put the onus on the agency's two Democrats, who are at odds with their GOP counterparts. "If any commissioner has changed his mind where they are on the issue, the chairman is ready to go," she said.
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