Group of House Democrats Decry Martin's Media-Ownership Plan

GROUP OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS DECRY MARTIN'S MEDIA-OWNERSHIP PLAN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Forty-one US House Representatives have written Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin to express "grave shock and dismay" over the news that Chairman Martin was looking to bring the 18-month review of media ownership to a close by the end of the year -- a timetable that surprised some and angered many who do not favor Martin's deregulatory course. Many expect the FCC majority to approve rules that would lift the ban on newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership and perhaps loosen the rules on station ownership. "We believe such actions are reminiscent of the bad behavior that resulted in an intervention by the Third Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals in your agency's efforts on media ownership three years ago," the legislators wrote. "Therefore, we hope you will immediately take steps to resolve significant shortcomings in your plan regarding accountability, transparency and scientific integrity." They also echoed complaints about the 10 FCC-commissioned media-ownership studies and their peer-review process, as well as the inadequate time for public comment if the FCC adopted new rules by December.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6494494.html?rssid=193

* AFTRA Slams Media Ownership Timetable
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said Thursday that more than 2,000 of its members sent e-mails to legislators asking them to "stop the FCC from fast-tracking the relaxation of media-ownership regulations."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6494548.html