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FCC Plan Will Result in Freedom Of or From the Press?
macduffman writes "Kevin Martin, Chairman of the FCC, has fired a volley in the war against media moguls ... or is it in the war against freedom of the press? An article in the Editor and Publisher describes the plan to ban cross-ownership in the same market (i.e., owning a newspaper and a broadcast station in the same city). Several waivers exist for some current ownerships, but would not be passed on to new owners. The plan calls for public comment beginning in mid-November, and the FCC would vote on it a month later." This follows an unpopular 2003 decision by the FCC that was eventually invalidated by the courts. At issue is the speed at which this complex decision is being carried out: "Media consolidation opponents said Wednesday that the chairman may be moving too fast. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said that one month for the public to consider the rule is not enough time. 'If that's his intention, it's going to subvert the public interest,' he said. 'The FCC needs to learn a lesson here from what happened previously.'" Update: 10/19 17:58 GMT by Z :Rewritten for clarity.
Required reading on this issue: How the gutting of the Fairness Doctrine and the 1996 Telco Act screwed up the media. This gives you a good introduction into what happened to our system of media and regulation.
It's been going on for awhile, but the two-tiered attack began with Reagan eradicating the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 which paved the way for partisan talk radio which were basically paid mouthpieces for various corporate interests who could sway public opinion on key issues, and also stations no longer being obligated via the FCC rules to report news of critical interest to the public, so they could sneak all sorts of legislation, including relaxed ownership rules which were stuffed into the 1996 telco act. Check out the link above for all the gory details.