FCC Chairman Defends Media Ownership Rules

AP:

The Republican chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is disputing Democratic assertions that a new rule loosening restrictions on media ownership is full of loopholes and will lead to a wave of mergers and fewer choices for consumers.

Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps described the commission's decision approving the measure as "one that would make George Orwell proud," referring to the English author best known for his novels critiquing totalitarianism and for popularizing the phrase "Big Brother is watching you."

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[BigBagel]

Corporate nerd.

[jonthebru]

The part about buying a low rated station is very strange. Does that mean that the buyer must strive to keep their investment low rated in order to keep it? Isn't the job of a broadcast capitalist to strive to improve the ratings and make it to the top so they can charge more for their ads? Does this rule mean they can't hire the spiffy consultants that pretty up your crew, teach them what to say and how to say it in order to top the ratings? Doesn't seem logical to me, I of course don't trust any Bush appointee. This one is special.

[chirps]

Be thankful for the Internet. Rupert and others who wish to control and shape American’s views of their country and world hate the Internet's guts. It’s dangerous source of unfiltered truth.

Screw the bastards.

[Rockwell]

Who is the snotty little weasle and why is he giving away my freedom to choose?

[bluesky49876]

FCC Chairman, a typical GOP criminal working against the public interest while getting paid by the public.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

This is the worst administration ever for the american people. I watched Bill Moyers program not long ago about this issue. The FCC is in bed with these corporations. Shame on that young man not to listen to the people that don't want this to happen. They forget they work for us. I'm so disspointed in our country these days.

[LeftLeaner]

"A minor loosening of a single rule" is how the Bush Administration operates.

It's called the boiling frog theory.

Bring it up to a boil slowly and the frog won't notice it's been boiled to death.

Just like they've taken away our civil liberties a little at a time, they've removing our access to TRUE INFORMATION.

Why is it that the vote on this commission is across party lines? The DEMS have truly let me down, but at least it seems they are still for access to diverse sources of information.

[escobar]

If he has not been rewarded already in order to maintain appearances, this fellow will find himself very very rich in the future.
It seems that all the government appointees who betray our country find themselves with wonderful retirement funds and great corporate positions, not that there is any link.
They are just bright people, pushed to the head of their class, who spout the party line, and lead us into the future.
Money and profit are all that matter in a pure capitalist world. Some of us just never got that.
Like the great OZ said.."Jus­t ignore the man behind the curtain".

[blackjack]

Do you want to take bets on who will be signing his pay check in about 14 to 15 months? I am betting on NEWS CORP:., RUPERT MURDOCK.

[Pat15]

Very true ...majorit­y of the citizens dont think ..they dont take any action until it is too late ..I hope when some good sense returns to this nightmare we are living thur ..that they will undo most of the stuff this adminstration has done to our country ..
Wake up folks & see the reality ..& how these neocons are taking away our freedom & liberty ..

[ljsfolly]

We have lost the freedom of the press and media with this kookoo nut making this decision to let owners control the media even more than it is now. When the media has been supporting bush and telling his manipulated stories for him about the economy and the war it has been worse terrorism than killing in so many ways as it has supported the war based on lies. We have just in the past year started to see less biased media and more truth. To let the few control the media has shown us what happens and now when we have the point of just a few who supported bush and the insanity being the only ones who will let us know what they deem important to us it is a dictatorship we have. Free press and media has not always served us well but those who control the media after this rulling will no longer let the Keith O's tell us their opinions and we will be stuck with those like the fox news people who are just talking head spouting false ideations of someone else and Tucker C like idiots. Sad.

[VOTER]

This "punk" Chairman of the FCC must be stopped!

Sanitized news equals NO NEWS in a Democracy.

[mamacat]

If and when the Dems get back into the presidency, and if they also maintain a majority in the Congress, will they be able to restore the FCC to its originally stated function?
I think someone should make a list of every last thing the neo-cons have done to undermine democracy, and then carefully repair these things as soon as possible.
Hopefully, Americans will never again trust the new Republican party with anything more important than choosing a dog catcher. Scratch that, I don't want a bunch of rabid neo-cons running around chasing cats and dogs. They might spread rabies to an otherwise healthy animal population.

[jpshotwheels]

Everyone needs to contact your Congressman about this, and be outraged at this, threaten your vote. The sad thing is half of America is stupid, not paying attention, this is not being reported. One day soon Americans will wake up, living in a police state and wonder what the hell happened.

[jpshotwheels]

When I first heard about this, I wrote every one of the FCC Chairman, opposing Martin's decision. There was an astonishing ammount of outrage about this from the public and this idiot still ignores the Public Outcry. He is a punk appointed by President Bush/King George, I wonder what he gets out of the deal.

You know sometimes I wonder if the writer's strike isn't being manipulated by the Bush Administration. The writer's are oppressed from writing, Freedom of Speech, at the same time you have Mark Martin working on the airwaves. Preparing America for the Orwellian State or V for Vendetta atmosphere. Welcome to United States of America's Soviet Union Media.

All the HDTV's bought in America will be turned into Home Invasion Spyware and Brainwashing Media.