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FCC to Permit Complete Media/Telecom Consolidation

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bend-over dept.

rhwalker22 writes "Today's Washington Post has a piece reviewing some of the major decisions the Federal Communications Commission will be making in the next few months, moves that could fundamentally rewrite the rules for the broadcast media and Internet service providers. Excerpt: 'Opponents of the proposed rules fear that, taken together, they ultimately could lead to a few powerful conglomerates controlling the flow of electronic information, from programming of television and radio news and entertainment to owning the pipes that connect people to the Internet.'"

9 of 301 comments (clear)

  1. huh? by TCaptain · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Opponents of the proposed rules fear that, taken together, they ultimately could lead to a few powerful conglomerates controlling the flow of electronic information, from programming of television and radio news and entertainment to owning the pipes that connect people to the Internet.

    And how this is different from today?

    --
    "I'm not a procrastinator, I'm temporally challenged"
    1. Re:huh? by avi33 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I got news for you, these *are* the good times.

      Imagine if Sony, your ISP/cable company, decides that you, as a consumer, really only need port 80. Their TOS allows them to monitor your computer for p2p apps, and while you're free to 'license' (listen to once, without recording) sony music and video for a small fee, any non-sony media will be subject to a bandwidth cap...so if you listen to non-sony internet radio, you hit your cap 4 days into the month. ...or, you could always try your hand with the other ISP, MicroDisneySoft.

    2. Re:huh? by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I guess us libertarian geeks will just have to set up our own channels of communications.

      The Libertarians' flawed belief that a Corporation Can Do No Wrong is what got us into this situation in the first place.
      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

  2. This is already happening... by MImeKillEr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Opponents of the proposed rules fear that, taken together, they ultimately could lead to a few powerful conglomerates controlling the flow of electronic information, from programming of television and radio news and entertainment to owning the pipes that connect people to the Internet.

    This is already happening with Radio. Proof? Two words: Clear Channel.

    Do you have a KISS-FM in your town? That's Clear Channel. They're putting cookie-cutter pop radio stations (all called KISS-FM) in major markets. In addition to owning KISS-FM in nearly every market, they own TV stations, billboards, concert venues, etc.

    Check out this link.
    Click here and search for 'kiss' -- you'll find 51 stations, all the same format, all the same manufactured pop stars, all the same type of dopey deejays.

    Its radio like this that keeps me listening to CDs.

    --
    Cruising the internet on my TI-99/4A @ a whopping 300 baud!
  3. Obvious by Qrlx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Opponents of the proposed rules fear that, taken together, they ultimately could lead to a few powerful conglomerates controlling the flow of electronic information

    Shouldn't that be fewer powerful conglomerates?

    Deregulation of the telecom industry has brought us the lowest rates ever! Of course, we're paying fees, taxes, tariffs, surcharges, adjustments, and recoupments that didn't even exist before, but look -- deregulation must work because rates are lower.

    The situation with deregulation in this country has put the foxes in charge of hen house.

    For my opinion of FCC Chairman Michael Powell, read my other post.

  4. Re:Unification by swb · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who needs banks? Since you'll work for them, they'll just keep an account for you at the company store, which will be always just slightly negative in balance.

  5. Re:Define Irony by (trb001) · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Irony is the wrong word...hypocrisy is the one you're looking for.

    --trb

  6. here comes the dictatorship by elmegil · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Opponents of the proposed rules fear that, taken together, they ultimately could lead to a few powerful conglomerates controlling the flow of electronic information, from programming of television and radio news and entertainment to owning the pipes that connect people to the Internet.

    Which is of course what you would want if you were trying to subvert democracy and freedom...a task some members of the current administration have already made great inroads on.

    --
    7 November 2006: The day Americans realized corruption and incompetence weren't addressing 11 September 2001
  7. Competition is dying already :( by Ded+Bob · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As an ex-DirecTV DSL customer, I am seeing it disappear as we speak. The only provider in my area is now SBC. Whether or not the FCC does anything, I see competition as being dead.

    BTW, I would love the FCC to get rid of one regulation: the idiotic regulation that requires me to cancel DSL service before I can get another provider to even take an order. The same group comes out to disconnect me as will connect me five days later. I want to see down-times of hours not days nor weeks (if unlucky). How can people try out different competitors easily if they will have to wait so long?