UPDATE 1-Senators threaten to revoke FCC media ownership vote

[Breeze54]

UPDATE 1- 25 Senators threaten to revoke FCC media ownership vote

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSN1741587320071217

Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:43pm EST

By Peter Kaplan

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) -

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators threatened on Monday to override the Federal Communications Commission
if the agency votes to loosen media ownership restrictions at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

A group of 25 senators said they sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, warning they would
"move legislation to revoke the rule and nullify the vote" if the FCC goes ahead with the media
ownership rule changes.

The group, including Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, a Democrat from Hawaii, and
the panel's top Republican, Ted Stevens of Alaska, said the FCC had not spent enough time studying
the issue and seeking input from the public.

The senators accused Martin of ignoring the public's right "to play a constructive role" in the decision.
The warning came one day before the FCC's five commissioners were expected to vote on a plan by Martin
that would lift ownership restrictions in the 20 biggest U.S. cities.

Martin's proposed changes have drawn objections from consumer groups and some lawmakers in Congress,
as well as the FCC's two Democratic commissioners. Existing FCC rules ban ownership of a newspaper,
and a television or radio station in the same market, unless the FCC grants a waiver.

Critics say easing ownership rules will lead to more consolidation in the industry, eliminate independent
voices and degrade local news coverage.

(Reporting by Peter Kaplan; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

Keep sending those letters to all the senators, R's and D's!!!

Tell Congress to Stop Big Media
http://action.freepress.net/campaign/ownership

[malaise]

1. K & R

Stop Big media!!!

[Joanne98]

2. Done

[Breeze54]

3. The hearing will be on C-Span 3 at 10:30 AM EST tomorrow

and online on C-Span, as usual.

Thanks for signing! Don't forget to tell all your family and friends too! ;)

[robinlynne]

16. Geez. I don't know if my heart can handle much more cspan after today.

[Breeze54]

22. It should be quite interesting and I think

Code Pink may be showing up, like they did in 2003!

June 02, 2003

Video of Code Pink Speaking Out (Singing In Protest) At Today's FCC Vote - Members Escorted Out By Police

http://www.onlisareinsradar.com/archives/001335.php

We'll, see! :D

[blm]

4. More fireworks tomorrow.

.

[blogslut]

5. right on!

I watched some of those FCC hearings the other day. Those Senators were pissed.

[Breeze54]

6. I don't blame them. Martin is an arrogant

little puke! Have you seen how young he is?

Well; I guess you have but he looks about 12 in his FCC picture!

He needs to be sent to the woodshed!!

[Pastiche423]

12. He must have great genes. He's 41

[Breeze54]

13. Is that his IQ?

:P

[Pastiche423]

15. Don't you think 41 is a wee bit too high for his IQ?

[Breeze54]

21. LOL! Hell yes!

[Snotcicles]

7. Are you shitting me? way to go Ted, you old bastard. nt

[Breeze54]

8. I couldn't believe he was onboard either!!

Will wonders never cease!!

[Snotcicles]

14. Like when hell freezes over or McConnell's face thaws out. nt

[lovuian]

9. AWESOME come on guys and gals

lets kick some Old Murdoch butt

[ColbertWatcher]

10. thank you

Tomorrow is the last day, please check out: (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=109&topic_id=31564&mesg_id=31564)

[Breeze54]

11. Thanks for signing, ColbertWatcher !

I read your post today and recommended it.

People can click the link in my OP and sign also.

They can also send a message to the FCC at http://StopBigMedia.com

You can also get involved on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr and the Free Press Action Network.

Welcome to DU, ColbertWatcher! :hi:

[progressoid]

17. What the...? Ted Stevens?

[KoKo]

18. Big K&R on this!

[AzDar]

19. Good!

[annabanana]

20. Left & Right align on this one...

The Right believes they're fighting the "liberal" media...

The Left knows who controls the purse strings. . .

It's an unusual confluence, and could maybe get things done...

[Breeze54]

23. "the mass deregulation of the mass communication is the end of democracy"

http://www.onlisareinsradar.com/archives/001335.php

[mzmolly]

24. Hugely important.

Thanks Breeze.

[Blue_In_AK]

25. This is one thing that Stevens has right...

Kevin Martin's arrogance is astounding.

[Hidden Stillness]

26. Sen. Rockefeller Proposes Re-Authorizing the FCC Completely

At the very angry Senate hearing on the FCC last Thursday I think it was, Sen. Jay Rockefeller blasted Martin and the way the FCC has totally abandoned its role as a regulator on behalf of the interests of the American people, and has become a rubber-stamp to every merger or deregulation deal proposed by any media industry or corporation. This latest thing has Martin using as a pretext, the "unprofitable" state of the newspaper industry (!)--both inaccurate and not even the FCC's concern. Rockefeller proposed re-authorizing the FCC completely when the Senate resumes this January. Get it back to its real mandate and responsiblities, and regulate it again. This sounds like it could be great.

[KoKo]

27. K&R

[Breeze54]

28. :-)

Thanks for kicking this and the other Kerry post, KoKo01 :hi:

[Breeze54]

29. kicking