Martin Proposes Mid-December Wrap-Up of Media-Ownership Review
MARTIN PROPOSES MID-DECEMBER WRAP-UP OF MEDIA-OWNERSHIP REVIEW
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein confirmed Wednesday that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has proposed a timetable for completing the years-long media-ownership rule review by December 18, but unhappy top Senate Democrats vowed to hold a hearing quickly on that move. An FCC source familiar with the proposal confirms that, more than two weeks ago, the chairman circulated a proposal to bring the ownership review to a close, seeking other commissioner's input on bringing closure to an 18-month proceeding with a federal court waiting for an answer. The chairman's timeline included holding the last localism hearing Oct. 31, and the last media ownership hearing in early November, then collecting final comments. Since Chairman Martin has already committed to completing the separate broadcast localism review and issuing a report on it before proceeding with broader rule changes, that report would have to be issued in the next couple of weeks to meet the December timetable for a possible vote. "[T]here is going to be a firestorm of protest, and I will be carrying the wood," said Sen Byron Dorgan (D-ND). He called for a Senate hearing and Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) agreed. Commissioner Adelstein said he agreed with Sen Dorgan that the FCC needed to consider DTV public-interest obligations, localism and minority concerns before revising the rules.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6492368.html?rssid=193
* Plan Would Ease Limits on Media Owners
The proposal appears to have the support of a majority of the five commission members, agency officials said, although it is not clear that Chairman Martin would proceed with a sweeping deregulatory approach on a vote of 3 to 2 — something his predecessor tried without success. In interviews on Wednesday, the agency’s two Democratic members raised questions about Martin’s approach. Chairman Martin said he was striving to reach a consensus with his fellow commissioners, both on the schedule and on the underlying rule changes, although he would not say whether he would move the measures forward if he were able to muster only three votes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/business/media/18broadcast.html?ref=to...
* Media-Ownership Issue May Get Decided (Associated Press)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119268198452763237.html?mod=todays_us_pa...
* The FCC must not rush to judgement
A plan by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin to relax media ownership rules before the end of the year without further public input and comment on the specific proposed rules must be slowed down.
"Not only is greater consolidation of the media bad for America, but a process that would allow it without public input is not how our democracy is supposed to work," said Common Cause President Bob Edgar. "The FCC must slow down, fully disclose its proposal and allow the people to speak on the specifics of these media ownership rules. If they do not, Congress should rein them in."
The FCC four years ago similarly tried to relax media ownership rules with limited public input and the result was a firestorm of protest. More than 2 million Americans contacted the FCC and Congress to express their outrage over changes that could make it possible for one media giant to own the local newspaper, up to three television stations and up to eight radio stations in one media market.
"People realize what these new rules could mean for democracy -- fewer sources of information, less coverage of local news, fewer media owners and fewer diverse points of view,” said Edgar. “The vast majority of Americans oppose more consolidation and the FCC must consider that."