Senate Votes to Repeal Media Rules (more bigger media)

[UpInArms]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/business/media/23broadcast.html

(free registration or try www.bugmenot.com)

WASHINGTON, June 22 - The Senate voted on Tuesday to repeal rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission that make it easier for the nation's largest media conglomerates to expand and enter new markets.

The rules, approved last June by a divided F.C.C., largely removed previous ownership restrictions on media companies. They struck down the rule that in most markets had prevented one company from owning both a newspaper and a television or radio station in the same city. In the largest markets, the new rules also enabled a company to own as many as three television stations, eight radio stations and a cable operator. And they allowed the largest television networks to buy more affiliated stations, although Congress later rolled back that provision.

The new rules have already been blocked temporarily by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia, which is considering a challenge.

By a voice vote, the Senate approved a provision to repeal the rules and restore tougher restrictions. Supporters of the effort said that the Senate's decision provided them with a backstop in case the appeals court did not rule in their favor. But the legislation still faces formidable political obstacles - a similar measure was dropped from a different bill this year after encountering stiff resistance from both the Bush administration and Republican leaders in the House, which would need to reconcile the latest measure in a conference committee.

...more...

[gmoney]

1. I always get confused...

"Supported an amendment to repeal the expansion of the restricted reversal of the expanded practice allowing restricted limitations of further allowances of the up is down act of 1948, revised..."

No wonder so many crap laws get passed... 37 degrees of double negatives and such...

[Robbien]

2. Thought it was just me

Now, this is a good thing here right? And the voice vote is so that the big media doesn't go after individual Senators?

Or do I have this assbackwards.

[UpInArms]

3. you are correct - it is a "good" thing

all the double negatives and reversals of which rules and impending rules blocked has me upside down.

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. YES THIS IS A GOOD THING

Not even all of big media is for this. No one wants Clear Channel to get bigger except for Clear Channel. This also means that Fox and CBS won't be able to merge as they'd wanted to (and you were wondering why CBS wouldn't air the MoveOn.org commercials during the Super Bowl?).

Take THAT Michael - my daddy is the Secretary of State and I'm a happy corporate whore - Powell.

Doing my happy dance now!!!!!

[struggle4progress]

7. It would be a good thing if the House followed suit.

As is, I'm really not sure it means much.

[aquart]

8. Wait till November, darling.

Right now, the media doesn't know which way to jump. Piss on the Democrats who are leading? How tough will the new rules be?

La, la, la, la, la, la.

[struggle4progress]

9. I'm pessimistic by nature. Winning in November will take hard work.

[aquart]

12. Yes, it will.

GOTV and then watching the count. And if the count is hidden, screaming to the skies.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Oh, halp! What a bunch of sadists running the N.Y. Times!

What perverts, using so many negatives, just because they can!



At least it's good to know that excellent N. Dakota Democrat, Byron Dorgan initiated this, although it doesn't sound as if he's totally optomistic it's going anywhere, due to Republican corruption.

[AP]

4. Good quote from Dorgan:

"I'm not predicting any greater or lesser success than last time,'' Senator Byron Dorgan, Democrat of North Dakota, said in an interview after the vote. Mr. Dorgan is a co-sponsor of the measure with Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine.

"The president and the speaker of the House are determined to protect these rules,'' Mr. Dorgan said. "I am simply pounding away at this and trying at every opportunity I can to roll the rules back.''

"Last June, the F.C.C. performed one of the most complete cave-ins to corporate interests against the public interest in the history of the country,'' he added. "When the number of people and corporations who control what 293 million Americans see and hear in the media shrinks to just a relative handful, democracy suffers.''

[farmboxer]

10. We Need "More" Democrats Now

more than ever! I will vote, if I have to crawl to the polls!

[schultzee]

11. ditto