The FCC has, as predicted, loosened up the rules of media concentration, casting aside the last vestige of competition and diversity in the media, opening the gates for even more uniformity in the news and information we receive. Me, I'm just glad that ClearChannel's afternoon Three Minute Hate show will be on every channel on my dial every day.
The coaltion in opposition to this was the most diverse I can remember seeing. Bipartisan, from all walks of life. The FCC was innundated with thousands and thousands of comments from the public in opposition to this. Meanwhile the main voice in favor of this came from the same self-interested parties who will benefit under the new regulation. It's a revolting and perverse demonstration of "regulatory capture," where a regulated industry calls all the shots at the body that's nominally overseeing it — the fox guarding the henhouse.
The Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 — along party lines — to adopt a series of changes favored by media companies.
These companies argued that existing ownership rules were outmoded on a media landscape that has been substantially altered by cable TV, satellite broadcasts and the Internet.
Critics say the eased restrictions would likely lead to a wave of mergers landing a few giant media companies in control of even more of what the public sees, hears and reads.
The decision was a victory for FCC Chairman Michael Powell, who has faced growing criticism from diverse interests opposed to his move toward deregulation.
"Our actions will advance our goals of diversity and localism," Powell said. He said the old restrictions were too outdated to survive legal challenges and the FCC "wrote rules to match the times."
(Thanks, Pete!)
