Martin: Reagan Counter-Revolutionary

MARTIN: REAGAN COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Kim McAvoy]
Much to the chagrin and surprise of many old-guard Reaganites, Republican Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has emerged as one of the most regulatory chairmen in decades. Since assuming the chairmanship three years ago, Martin has been aggressively pushing a government-knows-best agenda designed not only to referee inter-industry relations, but also to shape the content of broadcasting and cable. His prime target has been cable, but in recent months, he has turned his sights to broadcasting in an effort to encourage more local programming. Such regulatory burdens were cast off during the Reagan Revolution of the 1980s. The idea of bringing them back is all too much for the man who led that revolution at the FCC, then-Chairman Mark Fowler. Martin’s regulatory agenda is leading to his increasing isolation. The Democrats on the Hill will not forgive him for relaxing the newspaper-broadcast crossownership rule, and neither will liberal media activists. Cable animosity for Martin has grown to such a point that its chief lobbyist, National Cable & Telecommunications Association President Kyle McSlarrow, doesn't shy away from blasting away at Martin in public. He has nothing to lose. Broadcasters have resented Martin for what they believe is overzealous indecency enforcement, and they are increasingly concerned about the localism initiatives.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/01/30/daily.5/