Congress Investigating FCC Chair Martin For "Abuse Of Power"

Two key House lawmakers announced Monday that they were investigating the Federal Communications Commission, accusing its chairman of "possible abuse of power" and a failure to operate fairly and openly in handling proposed cable TV and media ownership regulations.

"Given several events and proceedings over the past year, I am rapidly losing confidence that the commission has been conducting its affairs in an appropriate manner," Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote to FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin.

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Comments

[TMAN]

This goes directly to one of the major bleeding wounds our democracy is experiencing. Monopolizing the media to a few corporate run outlets under the guise of "making a healthier competitive environment" is a major corner stone of the conservative agenda. Keep the heat on this dis-honest bastard. the faster these ill disguised leeches can be exposed along with their nefarious Grover Norquist, agenda the faster we can begin to heal. Good for Dingle-great for America.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

This little prick is pushing the Media Consolidation agenda as hard as he can, picking up where Michael Powell left off, so you and I well get more canned corporate media. The FCC is supposed to service us we own the airways not Murdock nor ABC, NBC or CNN. In the case of cable we pay for it. Michael Powell bent over for the Christian Right because of a few thousand zealots signed formed letters over Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction in middle of a football game for less than second, like seeing Janet’s nipple brought down Western Civilization. Than this fool who looks like he’s 12 threatened the networks for re-airing Saving Private Ryan and a documentary about 9-11 because they contained crude langue, God forbid my life is ruined. I recently watch Martin addressing a Town Hall meeting in Washington State in defense of this very issue and there was plenty of harsh langue, I can assure you. He is the problem, not listening to majority who pay his salary, looking forward to a generous paying media job after the next administration cans him, the same type of job Michael Powell left for. The FCC like every other agency staffed with so-called conservative Bush appointees has become a self-severing whorehouse. Its time the Christian conservatives taking responsibility for raising their own kids like my parents did, this is not a job for federal agencies a couple of thousand form letters dose make a majority and this little tool should be fired.

PS. you have to 12-12-07 to register a complaint with the FCC to stop increased Media Consolidation. I’m not sure if Martin will listen though, there’s zealots to pander to and money to be made.

[unemployedprogressive]

Some accountability should have been exercised when Powell was the FCC chair. The system has been rigged sinse Bush began politicizing every office in the gov't. What has been done to PBS is either a crime or a joke. At least there is still Democracy Now on the air. Amy Goodman will give you more real news in 10 minutes than the networks will deliver in a week.

Equally sad though, is that this guy from Michigan thinks this is his top priority? The Detroit car companies are losing ~ $1 Billion a month and this clown thinks raising CAFE standards would hurt car sales. Pathetic!!!

[loki]

lets not forget who had to leave the post and gave him the job. Colin Powells son. It seems to be a post created for corruption, as I cant think of anyone whose had the seat in recent times that didnt leave under a black cloud.

[Kundera]

Politico.com:
Having made a five-day congressional workweek de rigueur for much of the year, House Democrats are planning an easier schedule for next year.

A 2008 calendar distributed to congressional offices Monday shows the House holding five-day weeks only three times next year, exposing Democrats to charges that they are backing away from a pledge to work harder than Republicans did when they ruled the House.

“You have to hand it to Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats for … rewarding themselves with another broken promise,” said Ken Spain, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “With a record low approval rating, … you would think they would start getting to work instead of planning extra vacation days.”

[realitytrumpsbull]

Censorship! It's not just for China, anymore!

[mellene]

These appointments ought not to have the power to economically enrich fat cats like Sam Zell. Recently the news said Martin proposed granting Zell a waiver to expand his empire. He'll probably go to work for someone like that by the beginning of 2008 as did Michael Powell. Congress ought to nip this ability in the bud to be able to go on and work for companies they were suppose to oversee for at least the same 2 year waiting period as Senators will have to do come January 1, 2008.

[loki]

I think what will be the real problem here, and I think its a real problem with all of our government, is that when they actually take the effort to weed out a fellow politician who is corrupt (and they have pretty stiff standards before doing so-or they would all be in jail ) They always let the illegal actions hold true.
If laws are passed due to congressmen taking bribes, the passed laws stay intact.
If say this bozo did illegal actions that allowed companies to win, obtain, take over or get away with, and he is convicted or tossed out of office, those companies who paid him for the services will keep their spoils.

Its one of the few places in America where the only the bribed person is punished, and not the criminal who bribes that person. The other place is Wall Street.

[Liberalynne]

The US Govt is a wholly owned subsidiary and the major profit center of Halliburton, Blackwater, Pharma cos, et al. Virtually all US problems can be traced back to this fact. Illegal immigration, high prescription costs, no access to health care for millions, out-sourcing of jobs, no coherent energy policy, denial of global warming, and certainly Bush's occupation of Iraq.....t­he list goes on and on.

Is it still possible to reverse this? Are any of the candidates addressing this, as they accept millions of corp dollars? This FCC guy is a point man for his corporate bosses. We have the government the corporations have bought and paid for.

Where is the outrage?

[nikto]

Pitifully, Kevin J. Martin looks like exactly what he is----A spoiled Frat-Boy, raised on ignorance, hatred, and way too much money, who disdains the free-exchange of ideas a real Democratic system requires.

He is an anti-American piece of trash.

He probably plays golf with a set of solid gold clubs, too, I bet.

Rightwing Frat-Boyz will be the
death of this country!

[01202009]

My comment is to repost a post by HissyPussy that explains it all:

THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE!

Believe it or not the FCC used to be have a FAIRNESS DOCTRINE, which required TV and radio to present issues of public importance in an accurate, thorough, and equitable manner. There were rules, which specifically protected groups and individuals from personal attacks and rules requiring equal time for opposing political viewpoints.

This FAIRNESS DOCTRINE was originally adopted in 1949 as a counter-measure against the rise of global fascism. It remained in effect until 1987 when it was eliminated during the Reagan administration. Congress immediately voted to restore the doctrine, but President Regan vetoed the legislation. He single-handedly killed the doctrine and thus laid the groundwork for a media with no checks and balances whatsoever.

Within a few months of Regan's action, Rush Limbaugh got his first nationally syndicated radio show (1988). George H.W. Bush became President the following year. Still, in 1991, Congress attempted to restore the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE once again. This time around, George H.W. Bush snuffed the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE with the threat of a Presidential veto.

Limbaugh and company took this as a mandate to continue doing the Lord's Work. They did it rather well, but they really shifted into overdrive after Bush lost the Presidency to Clinton. Subsequently, in the 1994 mid-term elections, the Republicans took control of the House and Senate, the state legislatures and governorships.

The "Republican Revolution" was at its zenith when the Fox 'News' Channel went on the air in 1996. The FAIRNESS DOCTRINE was officially dead to the world and, in its absence, right wing media outlets have flourished profusely. More 'centrist', mainstream media have followed suit, and are continually listing further and further rightward.

Now for the GOOD NEWS: The 2007 Democratic Congress is currently working to restore the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE. The legislation is supported by: Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT);
along with Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Louise Slaughter (D-NY).

By: HissyPussy on April 06, 2007

[KOisGod]

Right now, the Dems, ineffectual as they are, are the only thing standing between us, and the complete take over of every facet of the govt. by these free markets, Christofascists.

Its not "competition" they want, its dominace of all news sources by their mouthpieces.

Can you imagine ONLY having Rush, Hannity, Savage et all, as your news source?

Christ - stop these f'in monsters.

[DrPaulProteus]

Oooh, Congress is investigating him... I'll bet he's quaking in his free-market boots.

[MAC2]

Put this little prick in jail, (just another Bush thieve) once the little shit is in jail start anti trust proceeding agisnt Rupert and the media empires.

[esquire07]

Just another Bush Criminal selling out America. What do you expect.

A Nation in the Gutter.